Role of computerized axial tomography in diagnosis and treatment of common neurosurgical problems of infancy and childhood.

Computerized axial tomography (CAT) is a new, highly accurate technique for studying the skull and intracranial contents. It is rapid enough to be utilized in acute emergencies and safe enough to be utilized for routine serial followups and evaluation of outpatients with equivocal findings. Because CAT can delineate the ventricular system without need for contrast agent, can distinguish clearly between hematoma and edema and can differentiate cystic from solid tumors, it finds wide application in the evaluation of neurological disease.