Neuro Imaging Flashcards
on a ct scan, the least dense substances will appear what?
dark
what appears the brightest on a CT?
bone
what appears brighter on a CT scan, blood or CSF?
blood
what is an epidural hematoma?
fast arterial bleed outside of the dura
in a case of an epidural bleed, where does the dura remain intact?
at the sutures
what is a classic history of a patient with an epidural hematoma following a head trauma?
they will be unconscious, followed by a lucid interval and then a loss of mental status
what demographic is common for subdural hematomas?
elderly patients due to reduced brain volume
what is unique about subdural hematomas compared to epidural hematomas?
the blood is not restricted by sutures but it is limited by the falx cerebri (wider spread)
what are two advantages of an MRI?
it has the highest resolution and it is very good at defining structure/ soft tissue lesions
in a T1 image, how does the white matter appear? gray matter?
white matter appears white and gray matter appears gray
what is the T1 imaging used for?
assessing anatomy/ soft tissue tumors and to see a disruption of the BBB
in a T2 image, how does the white matter appear? gray matter?
white matter appears dark and gray matter appears light
why would a T2 image be used?
it is good for seeing demyelination (white matter injury)
what is a con of a T2 image?
it is difficult to visualize inflammation next to a ventricle
what is unique about the T2-Flair MRI sequence?
it is a similar contrast to T2 sequence but the CSF appears dark
