PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Fox, J H AU - Topel, J L AU - Huckman, M S TI - Use of computerized tomography in senile dementia. AID - 10.1136/jnnp.38.10.948 DP - 1975 Oct 01 TA - Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry PG - 948--953 VI - 38 IP - 10 4099 - http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/38/10/948.short 4100 - http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/38/10/948.full SO - J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry1975 Oct 01; 38 AB - Computerized tomography was used to evaluate 35 patients with senile dementia and proved to be a simple and practical screening procedure. Those patients with moderate or severe cerebral atrophy had a poorer short-term prognosis than those with questionable or mild atrophy. Two patients with potentially treatable illnesses (hypothyroidism and pernicious anaemia) and only questionable atrophy had reversal of the dementia with treatment. A single patient with moderate atrophy had a potentially treatable illness (hypothyroidism) which only partially resolved. Those patients with dementia but relatively little atrophy by computerized tomography may represent a unique group with a better prognosis who require particularly careful evaluation for potentially treatable illnesses.