Routine Head Computed Tomography for Patients in the Emergency Room with Trauma Requires Both Thick- and Thin-Slice Images

Table 1

Numbers of linear skull fractures and sensitivities of head CT with 10 mm thick slices and skull X-rays (anteroposterior, lateral, and Towne views).

Fracture orientation	Head CT			Skull X-rays			Head CT or skull X-rays
	True positive	False negative	Sensitivity	True positive	False negative	Sensitivity	True positive
Longitudinal	293	6	98%	263	36	88%	299
Horizontal	33	26	56%	55	4	93%	59
Diagonal	83	18	82%	98	3	97%	101
Total	409	50	89%	416	43	91%	459

Fracture orientations were determined with respect to the orbitomeatal line.