This is a basic article for medical students and other non-radiologists
Seizures are a common medical emergency and presentation to emergency departments 1-3. All new seizures or changes in seizure activity merit assessment with neurologists, and usually require neuroimaging 3,4. They can be distressing to witness for patient, families and clinicians and can be caused by a number of factors.
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Reference article
This is a summary article; read more in our article on epilepsy.
Summary
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questions
was the seizure focal or generalised?
has the patient had an electroencephalogram (EEG) - what was the result?
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any of the following?
new focal neurology deficits
persistent altered consciousness/confusion
fever
persistent headache
medical history (malignancy, immunosuppression, previous neurosurgery)
use of anticoagulants
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investigations
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making the request
why is imaging required?
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what is the relative urgency?
why does it need to be done now?
what lateralising features are there (clinical or investigations)?
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common pathology
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