INVESTIGATING THE COMPARISON BETWEEN MDCT BRAIN PLAIN AND MRI FINDINGS IN INFANTS PRESENTING WITH HYDROCEPHALUS: A HOSPITAL-BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background and Aims: Hydrocephalus is a disorder characterised by abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain ventricles, demands accurate diagnosis for effective management. The primary aim of this research was to compare the MDCT Brain Plain and MRI findings in infants presenting with hydrocephalous.

Methods: A cross-sectional investigation of 39 newborns used 64-slice MDCT and 1.5 Tesla MRI, which followed paediatric imaging procedures. Temporal horns, ventricle size, and specific disorders such as spina bifida and encephalitis were studied. Chi-square tests were used to analyse statistical differences.

Results: CT excelled in detecting lateral ventricle involvement (94.9%) compared to MRI (84.6%, p=0.001). MRI was more successful in detecting 4th ventricle anomalies (30.8% vs. 12.8%). Temporal horns were identified similarly (CT: 66.7% and MRI: 61.5%, p<0.001). Spina bifida (5.1%) was found by MRI but not by CT. MRI revealed no tumours, in contrast to CT, which detected 2.6%.

Conclusion: The researchers discovered that MRI was better at identifying specific illnesses such spina bifida, absence of corpus callosum, Arnold Chiari syndrome, and encephalitis, whereas CT was better at detecting lateral ventricle involvement. However, the incidence of brain tumours was noticeably absent in the CT findings, whilst the prevalence was unclear in the MRI results. The clinical setting, specific diagnostic needs, and radiation exposure factors should all be taken into account when deciding between MDCT and MRI for hydrocephalus assessment. The results of this study reinforce the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, involving radiologists and clinicians, to tailor the choice of imaging modality to each patients unique circumstances. While MDCT and MRI have distinct advantages, their combined use may increase the diagnostic accuracy and comprehensiveness of hydrocephalus evaluation in newborns, ultimately leading to better patient care and management.