FREQUENCY OF INCIDENTAL FINDINGS ON COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY HEAD SCAN OF TRAUMA PATIENTS IN REHMAN MEDICAL INSTITUTE

Background: Incidental findings are unplanned discoveries during medical imaging and diagnostic procedures originally conducted for a different purpose. When discovered, they can cause worry about the presence of serious illness, prompting the need for further diagnostic tests or treatments. Objective: To determine the frequency of incidental findings on CT head scans of trauma patients at Rehman Medical Institute (RMI). Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. CT head scan reports of 195 trauma patients were reviewed in the radiology department of RMI from January 2021 to April 2023. Results: Of the 195 patients, 115 (59%) had incidental findings. The most common findings were Sino-nasal abnormalities (23.6%), followed by Mastoid fluid (5.1%), Brain Atrophy (4.6%), and Calcification (3.6%). Other findings included Arachnoid Cysts (2.6%), Ischemia (2.6%), Benign mass (2.1%), and Neoplastic mass (1.5%). Conclusion: The study highlights the critical role of CT scans in diagnosing conditions ranging from traumatic injuries to incidental findings. There is a strong need for improved protocols, documentation, and follow-up practices to enhance patient care, particularly in the context of trauma.