Radiology of Head Trauma Flashcards
What is the difference between a primary and secondary intraventricular hemorrhage?
Primary - due to tumor, lesion, or hypertension
Secondary - extension from another hemorrhage usually due to hypertension or trauma
What is an accumulation of CSF in the subdural space?
Subdural Hygroma
What imaging modality is best to identify the age of a hemorrhage?
MRI - breakdown of heme creates different appearance on imaging
Aneurysms are most associated with what type of hemorrhage?
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
How does a subdural hygroma appear on a CT scan?
Hypodense - as compared with blood that appears hyperdense
True/False. In a subarachnoid hemorrhage, blood follows the sulci.
True
A patient comes to the ED and is diagnosed with a venous hemorrhage. What is the most likely type of hemorrhage present?
Subdural hemorrhage - these have better prognoses due to slower blood accumulation. Often due to tearing of bridging veins
What is the most common type of traumatic cranial bleed?
Subdural hematoma
How does blood from an acute hemorrhage appear on a CT?
Hyperdense
What is the best imaging modality to diagnosis a diffuse axonal injury?
MRI (Gradient and FLAIR) - not seen on CT unless there is bleeding
What is the primary imaging modality used in head trauma?
CT without contrast
A fracture of this bone often presents with battle sign, CSF otorrhea, and sensorineural hearing loss.
Temporal bone fracture
A patient has an epidural hemorrhage. What is the likely source of the bleeding?
An artery (often MCA) - poorer prognosis due to rapid blood accumulation. Epidural bleeds also respect suture lines
Where are intraparenchymal hematomas most commonly found?
Frontal & temporal lobes
This type of head injury has a “train track-like” appearance.
Skull fracture - two hyperdense lines can be seen on either side
