What does a CT scan tell us about the brain?
Brain CT scans can provide more detailed information about brain tissue and brain structures than standard X-rays of the head, thus providing more data related to injuries and/or diseases of the brain. During a brain CT, the X-ray beam moves in a circle around the body, allowing many different views of the brain.
What is the basic principle of CT scan?
CT is based on the fundamental principle that the density of the tissue passed by the x-ray beam can be measured from the calculation of the attenuation coefficient.
What can you tell from a CT scan of the head?
Computed tomography (CT) of the head uses special x-ray equipment to help assess head injuries, severe headaches, dizziness, and other symptoms of aneurysm, bleeding, stroke, and brain tumors. It also helps your doctor to evaluate your face, sinuses, and skull or to plan radiation therapy for brain cancer.
Can a brain scan determine mental illness?
Brain scans alone cannot be used to diagnose a mental disorder, such as autism, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder. In some cases, a brain scan might be used to rule out other medical illnesses, such as a tumor, that could cause symptoms similar to a mental disorder, such as depression.
Why is CT blood white?
Acute haemorrhage absorbs X-rays and appears hyperdense (white) on CT scans. As the clot retracts it becomes more hyperdense over the first few hours up to 7 days; then isodense with brain over the following 1-4 weeks and finally hypodense compared with brain over the subsequent 4-6 weeks.
What is matrix in CT scan?
Matrix: Two dimensional grid of pixels, used to compose images on a display monitor. The matrix determines the number of rows and columns. Partial volume effect: When different tissues/objects are represented by the same voxel. Each tissue/object only partially fills the voxel and is therefore a partial volume.
Can you see brain damage on a CT scan?
CT scans can show if there is swelling or bleeding in the brain or a fracture in the skull. If you have signs of a serious injury, a CT scan is usually the best first test to diagnose it. Your health care provider will look for specific signs of a more serious problem.