Neuro Radiology Basic

Question 1

CT

Answer 1

-basically an x-ray -Used to evaluate ACUTE head trauma -VERY sensitive to detection of subarachnoid hemorrhage (aka very good at picking up acute blood… which is often caused by ruptured aneurysms) -results in 2 minutes

Question 2

T1 MRI

Answer 2

-good for brain morphology -contrast between gray and white matter -fat is bright and water is dark

Question 3

T2 MRI

Answer 3

-good at picking up pathology -fat and water both bright -diseased tissue tends to look bright -combined with “FLAIR” to to null background “noise” (like CSF within ventricls) causing pathology to pop out at you

Question 4

Diffusion weighted imaging in MRI

Answer 4

-VERY good at picking up ischemia/strokes (within minutes)

Question 5

PET

Answer 5

Used to evaluate brain function; ie Alzheimers, movement disorders etc.

Question 6

Epidural Hematoma presentation

Answer 6

*Biconvex* *does NOT cross suture lines, but may cross midline

Question 7

Subdural Hematoma presentation

Answer 7

Crescent shaped *does not cross midline but MAY cross suture lines

Question 8

4 hour rule of acute subdural hematoma

Answer 8

30% mortality if operated on in 4 hours

Question 9

Cauda Equina Syndrome

Answer 9

-usually due to trauma, tumor, or herniated Lumbar disc -causes lower extremity weakness, bladder incontinence etc. -best assessed via MRI

Question 10

Purpose of post-contrast gadollinuium

Answer 10

Makes tissues brighter on T1 MRI if they have increased vascularity or BBB disruption