Table 8.
Frequency table action plan by primary care doctor for reported non-tumour findings from direct access head imaging, N (%)
| Normal - does NOT explain the presenting symptom(s) | Abnormal, but not requiring further investigation - explains the presenting symptom(s) and can be managed in primary care | Abnormal, but not requiring further investigation - does NOT explain the presenting complaint, but can be managed in primary care | Abnormal, requiring further investigation (such as follow up scans or referral), but NO suspicion of tumour | Tumour suspected, requiring referral/follow-up | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cerebral atrophy | 12 (5.8) | 53 (25.7) | 76 (36.9) | 65 (31.6) | 0 |
| Ventricular abnormality | 1 (9.8) | 1 (9.8) | 5 (45.5) | 4 (36.4) | 0 |
| Benign cystic lesion | 0 | 2 (10) | 6 (30) | 12 (60) | 0 |
| Sinus disease | 7 (12.1) | 9 (15.5) | 23 (39.7) | 19 (32.8) | 0 |
| Arnold Chiari malformation type 1/tonsillar ectopia | 5 (18.5) | 2 (7.4) | 12 (44.4) | 8 (29.6) | 0 |
| ENT lesion | 0 | 0 | 3 (75) | 1 (25) | 0 |
| Vascular | 12 (6.2) | 37 (19) | 74 (37.9) | 72 (36.9) | 0 |
| Other | 7 (18.4) | 2 (5.3) | 15 (39.5) | 14 (36.8) | 0 |
| Total | 44 (7.7) | 106 (18.6) | 219 (38.4) | 195 (34.2) | 6 (1.1) |
| NICE category: Urgent referral (N, %) | 35 (6.5) | 97 (18) | 195 (36.2) | 172 (32) | 39 (7.2) |
| NICE category: Non-Urgent (N, %) | 9 (12) | 9 (12) | 24 (32) | 29 (38.7) | 4 (5.3) |