The 3 main things to look for on head CTs are:
πΈBlood
πΈMass Effect
πΈStroke
β‘οΈBlood
πΈCT is just a measure of density. Blood is thicker than water, so blood is denser than brain (70% water) on head CT
Blood can be:
πΈEPIdural: looks lentiform
πΈSUBdural: looks crescentic
πΈSUBarachnoid: looks snake-like
β‘οΈMass effect
πΈYou wonβt bleed out in your head. Instead, calvarium is a closed space & brain gets compressed
Look for:
πΈSubfalcine herniation = midline shift, ventricles shift to the other side
πΈTranstentorial herniation = Loss of the basilar cisterns--normally look like a pentagon & smiley face
β‘οΈStroke
πΈNormal gray-white differentiation looks like an octopus & is crispy & well-defined
πΈStroke looks like someone smeared white matter paint into gray matter paint
πΈBlood
πΈMass Effect
πΈStroke
β‘οΈBlood
πΈCT is just a measure of density. Blood is thicker than water, so blood is denser than brain (70% water) on head CT
Blood can be:
πΈEPIdural: looks lentiform
πΈSUBdural: looks crescentic
πΈSUBarachnoid: looks snake-like
β‘οΈMass effect
πΈYou wonβt bleed out in your head. Instead, calvarium is a closed space & brain gets compressed
Look for:
πΈSubfalcine herniation = midline shift, ventricles shift to the other side
πΈTranstentorial herniation = Loss of the basilar cisterns--normally look like a pentagon & smiley face
β‘οΈStroke
πΈNormal gray-white differentiation looks like an octopus & is crispy & well-defined
πΈStroke looks like someone smeared white matter paint into gray matter paint
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