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CT Head
Aka: CT Head, Head CAT Scan, Head CT, CT Brain
- See Also
- Head Injury CT Indications in Adults
- Head Injury CT Indications in Children
- Head Injury CT Indications in Concussion
- Indications
- Cerebrovascular Accident
- Differentiate Hemorrhagic CVA from Ischemic CVA
- More sensitive than LP for Intracranial Hemorrhage
- Test Sensitivity diminishes from time of Hemorrhagic CVA
- Test Sensitivity 95-100% at 12 hours from onset
- Test Sensitivity 50% at 7 days from onset
- Hemorrhagic CVA is not detectable on CT Head at 2-3 weeks from onset
- Suarez (2006) N Engl J Med 354(4): 387-96 [PubMed]
- Brain Tumors (larger than 2-4 mm)
- Enhanced with iodinated Contrast Material
- Hydrocephalus
- Subdural Hematoma
- Evaluation of Traumatic Head Injury
- CT Head in every Severe Head Injury
- CT Head in every Moderate Head Injury
- See Head Injury CT Indications
- See Head Injury CT Indications in Children
- Interpretation
- See CT Scan Window Width
- Describes CT Windows for Brain Window or Subdural Window
- Hemorrhage appearance on CT changes with time
- Acute Hemorrhage: Hyperdense (light, white)
- Whiter than brain matter
- Subacute Hemorrhage: Isodense
- Similar density to brain matter and may be missed
- Chronic Hemorrhage: Hypodense (dark)
- Darker than brain matter
- Old Subdural Hematoma may appear as a hygroma
- References
- Broder (2021) Crit Dec Emerg Med 35(5): 10-1
- Haydel (2000) N Engl J Med 343:100-5 [PubMed]