CT ScoutView for skull fracture: substitute for skull films?

The efficacy of the posteroanterior and lateral ScoutView images with an abbreviated (every other cut) computed tomographic (CT) examination for skull fractures and associated intracranial trauma was analyzed. The every-other-slice CT study found all the brain injuries detected by the complete CT study. In addition, 20 of 21 skull fractures were identified on the posteroanterior and lateral ScoutView studies. This modified CT examination can be performed for about the same cost as standard skull radiography and represents a much better investment of the patient's resources than the traditional skull series and complete CT study.