Brain CT Scans in Clinical Practice

Across emergency rooms all over the world, thousands of patients are referred for brain CT scans daily. A radiologist often has to interpret the scan or a consultation has to be made to a neurosurgeon to review the scan. Most of this happens late at night and is a significant source of discontent. Thus having frontline physicians to be proficient in interpreting the emergency brain CT scan improves the efficiency of the whole pathway of care and is potentially life saving as time is of the essence for many patients with severe brain injury or stroke.
Interpretation of the emergency CT brain scan is a visual art. Comparison is made between the image in front of you and a reference image. For the experienced person, this reference image is imprinted in the mind, therefore comparison is quick. For the beginner, you can either carry several examples of every possible appearance of normal and abnormal scans to compare with or read this book! This book contains a few proven ways of quickly learning to interpret a brain CT scan, irrespective of your previous experience.
The radiologist’s experience is related to the number of hours he or she has spent looking at CT scans. The radiologist conveys his evaluation of the CT scan in words that often come in a particular sequence and combination. This book is about helping you to rapidly understand and confidently use the same language used by the radiologist.
Contents
1 Introduction to the Basics of Brain CT Scan

• Three Basic Densities or Different Shades of Grey
• The Density of Blood Changes with Time!
• Symmetry–Mirror Image
• Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Spaces – The Compass of Brain CT Scan
• Identifying Abnormalities in the CSF Spaces
• Brain Swelling
• Brain Tumours
• Extra Axial and Intra Axial Lesions
• Basic Anatomy of the Brain Surface

2 Head Injury

• Introduction – Intracranial Haematomas
• Acute, Subacute and Chronic Subdural Haematomas
• The Brain Coverings (Meninges) and the Subarachnoid Space
• The Parts of the Skull and Naming of Haematomas
• The Base of the Skull
• The 5Ss of Any Haematoma!
• The First S Stands for Size
• The Second S Therefore Stands for Symptoms and Signs
• The Third S Stands for Shifts and Serious Consequences
• The Fourth S Stands for Side
• The 5th S stands for the Site of the Haematoma

3 Brain Haemorrhage and Infarction – Stroke

• Subarachnoid Haemorrhage
• First Clue in SAH Is the Clinical History
• Where to Look for SAH – Usual Locations
• Associated Features or Complications: The H.I.G.H of SAH
• Epilogue on CT Scan for SAH
• Spontaneous Intracerebral Haematoma
• Usual Locations and Aetiology
• Basic CT Scan Internal Landmarks
• Ischemic Stroke (Cerebral Infarction)
• T~ Stands for the Territory – the Vascular Territory
• H~ Stands for Hypodensity
• O~ Stands for Oedema
• S~Stands for Swelling and Shifts
• E~Stands for Evolution

4 Hydrocephalus

• Introduction
• The Temporal Horns and Third Ventricle in Early Hydrocephalus
• Effacement of the Sulci
• Disproportionately Small Fourth Ventricle
• The Frontal and Occipital Horns
• Periventricular Lucencies
• Previously Diagnosed Hydrocephalus
• Causes of Hydrocephalus
• Foramen of Munro – Colloid Cyst
• Cerebral Aqueduct of Sylvius
• Fourth Ventricle Obstruction

5 Introduction

• Mis forMass Effect
• E is for Enhancement
• A is for Appearance
• L is for Location
• Special Locations
• Red Flags

6 Advanced Uses of Brain CT Scan

• 3D Renditions: Craniosynostosis
• 3D Renditions: CT Angiography
• Subtleties!

Index

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 2nd Printing. edition (May 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1848823649
• ISBN-13: 978-1848823648
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 4.9 x 0.3 inches

List Price: $39.95

Tags: Brain Imaging, Computed Tomography, Neuro Imaging