Neuroimaging

Question 1

How is a bright signal referred to in a CT scan?

Answer 1

“dense”

Question 2

How is a bright signal referred to in an MR scan?

Answer 2

“intense”

Question 3

X-rays are also known as what?

Answer 3

Plain films, or radiographs.

Question 4

Name some uses of CT scans.

Answer 4

Bone/calcium: fractures
Blood: especially recent trauma; acute subdural/subarachnoid hemorrhage
Memingiomas
Fat and orbital muscles

Question 5

How does CSF appear in a typical CT scan?

Answer 5

black

Question 6

What type of cut is not possible for a CT scan?

Answer 6

sagittal

Question 7

What kind of base is used to contrast in a CT scan?

Answer 7

Iodine

Question 8

What can you visualize when you use contrast in a CT scan?

Answer 8

blood vessels

Question 9

What type of scan is preferred to evaluate intracranial pathology, and why?

Answer 9

MR: less radiation exposure than CT; greater soft-tissue contrast than CT

Question 10

How are high water content areas shown in T1 weighted MRI images?

Answer 10

Dark (hypointense)

Question 11

What would you use to contrast a T1 weighted MR?

Answer 11

Gadolinium

Question 12

How are high water content areas shown in T2 weighted MRI images?

Answer 12

Bright (hyperintense)

Question 13

What are T2 weighted images useful for?

Answer 13

pathology and edema

Question 14

Which is the preferred imaging technique (CT or MRI) for head trauma?

Answer 14

CT

Question 15

Which is the preferred imaging technique (CT or MRI) for lower cost?

Answer 15

CT

Question 16

Which is the preferred imaging technique (CT or MRI) for subtle area of injury?

Answer 16

MRI

Question 17

Which is the preferred imaging technique (CT or MRI) for brainstem or cerebellar lesion?

Answer 17

MRI

Question 18

Which is the preferred imaging technique (CT or MRI) for fresh hemorrhage?

Answer 18

CT

Question 19

Which is the preferred imaging technique (CT or MRI) for old hemorrhage?

Answer 19

MRI

Question 20

Which is the preferred imaging technique (CT or MRI) when speed is needed?

Answer 20

CT

Question 21

Which is the preferred imaging technique (CT or MRI) for skull fracture?

Answer 21

CT

Question 22

Which is the preferred imaging technique (CT or MRI) for calcified lesions?

Answer 22

CT

Question 23

Which is the preferred imaging technique (CT or MRI) for claustrophobic or obese patients?

Answer 23

CT

Question 24

Which is the preferred imaging technique (CT or MRI) when there are metallic fragments in the heart or eye?

Answer 24

CT

Question 25

Which is the preferred imaging technique (CT or MRI) when anatomical detail is needed?

Answer 25

MRI

Question 26

Does MRI FLAIR more closely resemble T1 or T2? How is it different?

Answer 26

It more closely resembles T2, but water is dark.

Question 27

What is MRI Flair useful for?

Answer 27

pathology, especially near CSF; MS plaques

Question 28

What is MRI DWI useful for?

Answer 28

acute infarcts

Question 29

What is Diffusion Tensor Imaging useful for?

Answer 29

Making maps of fiber directions to examine connectivity.

Question 30

What are T1 weighted images useful for?

Answer 30

viewing anatomy

Question 31

How can you remember T1/T2 bright vs dark?

Answer 31

T1 is for dark and T2 is for light, the “a” in dark being first alphabetically compared to “i” in bright.