Brain Injury CT Scan
I’m Ed Smith, a Fresno Brain Injury Lawyer. In order to quickly diagnose someone with a brain injury, it is important to get a better picture of what is happening inside of the patient’s head. There are many imaging modalities that can be used and one of the most common is a CT scan. What exactly is the medical provider looking for on a CT scan? What kind of pathology can be seen?
How does a CT Scan Produce an Image?
One of the questions that many people have is how a CT scan works. It is important to understand this prior to having a scan. Not unlike an x-ray, a CT scan works by differentiating images based on their density, or weight per unit volume. If an object is dense, it will show up as white on an x-ray or a CT scan. If an object is light, it will show up as black on a CT scan. Therefore, the bone will appear white while air will appear black. Liquid will show up as somewhere in the middle. If someone has metal inside of their body, such as a hip implant, they should notify their physician prior to receiving this scan.
Watch Youtube Video ~ Medical Animation – Traumatic Brain Injury – Diagnostic Slice Visualization. This video is an animation depicting a hematoma and resulting brain damage.
CT Scans and the Traumatic Brain Injury: Bleeding
If someone has symptoms of a traumatic brain injury, it is important to diagnose this quickly so it can be treated. One of the possible findings that might show up on a CT scan is bleeding. If a traumatic brain injury leads to bleeding, the scan may show pockets of liquid inside an otherwise normal brain tissue. Sometimes, this bleeding could be on the outside of the image near the skull. If this is the case, the individual could be diagnosed with an epidural or subdural hematoma. An epidural hematoma will look like a convex lens while a subdural hematoma will look more like a concave lens. Blood could also be in the structure of the brain itself.
Skull Injuries Might be Seen
In addition, a traumatic brain injury can be accompanied by a fractured skull as well. As mentioned before, the bone will appear as well so any break in this “white” structure along the outside would have a break in its density. Even though the focus is on the brain tissue itself, it is important not to miss a bone fracture along with the injury. A fragment of the skull could have broken off and damaged the brain tissue. If this is seen, this could be a surgical emergency. An impact to the brain tissue itself can cause swelling, which could be devastating if not corrected. Swelling can lead to a brain herniation and this would require a craniotomy to be prevented.
Related Articles by Ed Smith, Brain Injury Lawyer in Fresno ~
Fresno Brain Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Fresno Brain Injury Lawyer. Those who have undergone a CT scan and have been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury may reach out to me for free, friendly legal advice by calling (559) 377-7676 or (800) 404-5400.
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