Radiology Flashcards
How do radiographs work?
X-ray beam onto a plate detector
Quick, cheap, readily available, low ionising radiation.
Low contrast, 2D images
How do US machines work?
Hand healed probe using sound waves
Cheap, no ionising radiation
Operator dependant, limited by bone
Useful for thyroid and superficial soft tissue only
How does CT work?
X-Ray beam from passing through a doughnut shaped scanner
Quick, readily available
High dose radiation
How does an MRI work?
Images acquired within a magnet - usually shaped like a long tunnel.
Best contrast, no ionising radiation
Slow, expensive, limited availably
What do you use radiographs for?
Minor skull trauma
Cervical spine trauma
Foreign bodies within neck
What du you use US for?
Thyroid evaluation
Superficial head and neck masses
Superficial infection
Carotid Doppler
What do you use CT for?
Trauma
Acute focal neurological symptoms - particularly to evaluate for haemorrhaging strokes
Malignancy - CT head not routine for non-melanoma staging, neck for tumours which spread to neck nodes
Infection
Angiographic imaging of the arteries and veins
What are MRIs used for?
Best imaging of the brain - tumour, epilepsy
Cervical spinal cord traumatic injury
Head and Neck tumours
What is an orthopantomogram?
An orthopantomogram is an X-ray image of your whole mouth, including your upper and lower jaw. and teeth.
What is an extramural haemorrhage?
Usually defined traumatic cause
Usually arterial bleed - middle meningeal artery
Biconvex
Associated with fractures (75%)
‘Lucid interval’
Neurosurgical emergency
What could cause a sub Duran haemorrhage?
Paeds- Trauma, non-accidental injury
Adult - trauma
Elderly - trauma (often mild)
What is a subdural haemorrhage?
Usually venous bleeds - bridging veins
Crescentic
Acute - history of trauma and symptoms
Chronic - confusion
What can cause a subarachnoid haemorrhage?
Trauma
Rupture aneurysm
How do subarachnoid haemorrhages present if trauma?
Small vessel bleeds
Peripheral hyperdensity following sulci
Can be asymptomatic
Small with normal GCS can be managed conservatively. - currect anticoagulation, further CT id deteriorate.
Consider neurosurgical opinion.
How do subarachnoid haemorrhages present if ruptured aneurysm?
Arterial bleed due to aneurysm
Central hyperdensity within subarachnoid space
Thunderclap headache
Lumbar puncture if normal
Neurosurgical emergency - required angiographic imaging and treating of aneurysm.
