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Computed Tomography (CT) - 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.
In emergency cases, it can reveal internal
injuries and bleeding quickly enough to help
save lives.

Tell your doctor if there's a possibility you are

pregnant and discuss any recent illnesses,
medical conditions, medications you're taking,
and allergies. You will be instructed not to eat or drink anything for a few hours beforehand. If you have a
known allergy to contrast material, your doctor may prescribe medications to reduce the risk of an
allergic reaction. Leave jewelry at home and wear loose, comfortable clothing. You may be asked to wear
a gown.

What is CT Scanning of the Head?

Computed tomography, more commonly known as a CT or CAT scan, is a diagnostic medical test that,
like traditional x-rays, produces multiple images or pictures of the inside of the body.

The cross-sectional images generated during a CT scan can be reformatted in multiple planes, and can
even generate three-dimensional images. These images can be viewed on a computer monitor, printed on
film or by a 3D printer, or transferred to a CD or DVD.

CT images of internal organs, bones, soft tissue and blood vessels provide greater detail than traditional
x-rays, particularly of soft tissues and blood vessels.

CT scanning provides more detailed information on head injuries, stroke, brain tumors and other brain
diseases than regular radiographs (x-rays).

What are some common uses of the procedure?

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What are some common uses of the procedure?
CT scanning of the head is typically used to detect:

bleeding, brain injury and skull fractures in patients with head injuries.
bleeding caused by a ruptured or leaking aneurysm in a patient with a sudden severe headache.
a blood clot or bleeding within the brain shortly after a patient exhibits symptoms of a stroke.
a stroke, especially with a technique called CT Perfusion of the Head.
brain tumors.
enlarged brain cavities (ventricles) in patients with hydrocephalus.
diseases or malformations of the skull.

CT scanning is also performed to:

evaluate the extent of bone and soft tissue damage in patients with facial trauma, and planning
surgical reconstruction.
diagnose diseases of the temporal bone on the side of the skull, which may be causing hearing
problems.
determine whether inflammation or other changes are present in the paranasal sinuses.
plan radiation therapy for cancer of the brain or other tissues.
guide the passage of a needle used to obtain a tissue sample (biopsy) from the brain.
assess aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, and blood vessels through a technique called CT
angiography. For more information, see the CT Angiography page.

How should I prepare?

You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to your exam. You may be given a gown to wear
during the procedure.

Metal objects, including jewelry, eyeglasses, dentures and hairpins, may affect the CT images and should
be left at home or removed prior to your exam. You may also be asked to remove hearing aids and
removable dental work. Women will be asked to remove bras containing metal underwire. You may be
asked to remove any piercings, if possible.

You will be asked not to eat or drink anything for a few hours beforehand, if contrast material will be
used in your exam. You should inform your physician of all medications you are taking and if you have
any allergies. If you have a known allergy to contrast material, your doctor may prescribe medications
(usually a steroid) to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction. To avoid unnecessary delays, contact your
doctor before the exact time of your exam.

Also inform your doctor of any recent illnesses or other medical conditions and whether you have a
history of heart disease, asthma, diabetes, kidney disease or thyroid problems. Any of these conditions
may increase the risk of an unusual adverse effect.

The radiologist also should know if you have asthma, multiple myeloma or any disorder of the heart,
kidneys or thyroid gland, or if you have diabetes—particularly if you are taking Glucophage.

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Women should always inform their physician and the CT technologist if there is any possibility that they
may be pregnant. See the Safety page for more information about pregnancy and x-rays.

What does the equipment look like?

The CT scanner is typically a large, box-like machine with a hole, or short tunnel, in the center. You will
lie on a narrow examination table that slides into and out of this tunnel. Rotating around you, the x-ray
tube and electronic x-ray detectors are located opposite each other in a ring, called a gantry. The
computer workstation that processes the imaging information is located in a separate control room, where
the technologist operates the scanner and monitors your examination in direct visual contact and usually
with the ability to hear and talk to you with the use of a speaker and microphone.

How does the procedure work?

In many ways CT scanning works very much like other x-ray examinations. Different body parts absorb
the x-rays in varying degrees. It is this crucial difference in absorption that allows the body parts to be
distinguished from one another on an x-ray film or CT electronic image.

In a conventional x-ray exam, a small amount of radiation is aimed at and passes through the part of the
body being examined, recording an image on a special electronic image recording plate. Bones appear
white on the x-ray; soft tissue, such as organs like the heart or liver, shows up in shades of gray, and air
appears black.

With CT scanning, numerous x-ray beams and a set of electronic x-ray detectors rotate around you,
measuring the amount of radiation being absorbed throughout your body. Sometimes, the examination
table will move during the scan, so that the x-ray beam follows a spiral path. A special computer program
processes this large volume of data to create two-dimensional cross-sectional images of your body, which
are then displayed on a monitor. CT imaging is sometimes compared to looking into a loaf of bread by
cutting the loaf into thin slices. When the image slices are reassembled by computer software, the result
is a very detailed multidimensional view of the body's interior.

Refinements in detector technology allow nearly all CT scanners to obtain multiple slices in a single
rotation. These scanners, called multislice CT or multidetector CT, allow thinner slices to be obtained in a
shorter period of time, resulting in more detail and additional view capabilities.

Modern CT scanners are so fast that they can scan through large sections of the body in just a few
seconds, and even faster in small children. Such speed is beneficial for all patients but especially children,
the elderly and critically ill, all of whom may have difficulty in remaining still, even for the brief time
necessary to obtain images.
For children, the CT scanner technique will be adjusted to their size and the area of interest to reduce the
radiation dose.

For some CT exams, a contrast material is used to enhance visibility in the area of the body being studied.

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How is the procedure performed?
The technologist begins by positioning you on the CT examination table, usually lying flat on your back.
Straps and pillows may be used to help you maintain the correct position and to help you remain still
during the exam.

Many scanners are fast enough that children can be scanned without sedation. In special cases, sedation
may be needed for children who cannot hold still. Motion will cause blurring of the images and degrade
the quality of the examination the same way that it affects photographs.

If contrast material is used, depending on the type of exam, it will be swallowed, injected through an
intravenous line (IV) or, rarely, administered by enema.

Next, the table will move quickly through the scanner to determine the correct starting position for the
scans. Then, the table will move slowly through the machine as the actual CT scanning is performed.
Depending on the type of CT scan, the machine may make several passes.

You may be asked to hold your breath during the scanning. Any motion, whether breathing or body
movements, can lead to artifacts on the images. This loss of image quality can resemble the blurring seen
on a photograph taken of a moving object.

When the examination is completed, you will be asked to wait until the technologist verifies that the
images are of high enough quality for accurate interpretation.

A CT scan of the head is usually completed within 10 minutes.

What will I experience during and after the procedure?

CT exams are generally painless, fast and easy. With multidetector CT, the amount of time that the
patient needs to lie still is reduced.

Though the scanning itself causes no pain, there may be some discomfort from having to remain still for
several minutes. If you have a hard time staying still, are claustrophobic or have chronic pain, you may
find a CT exam to be stressful. The technologist or nurse, under the direction of a physician, may offer
you some medication to help you tolerate the CT scanning procedure.

If an intravenous contrast material is used, you will feel a pin prick when the needle is inserted into your
vein. You will likely have a warm, flushed sensation during the injection of the contrast materials and a
metallic taste in your mouth that lasts for at most a minute or two. You may experience a sensation like
you have to urinate; however, this is actually a contrast effect and subsides quickly.

When you enter the CT scanner, special light lines may be seen projected onto your body, and are used to
ensure that you are properly positioned. With modern CT scanners, you will hear only slight buzzing,
clicking and whirring sounds as the CT scanner's internal parts, not usually visible to you, revolve around
you during the imaging process.

You will be alone in the exam room during the CT scan, unless there are special circumstances. For

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You will be alone in the exam room during the CT scan, unless there are special circumstances. For
example, sometimes a parent wearing a lead shield may stay in the room with their child. However, the
technologist will always be able to see, hear and speak with you through a built-in intercom system.

With pediatric patients, a parent may be allowed in the room but will be required to wear a lead apron to
minimize radiation exposure.

After a CT exam, the intravenous line used to inject the contrast material will be removed by the
technologist, and the tiny hole made by the needle will be covered with a small dressing. You can return
to your normal activities.

Who interprets the results and how do I get them?

A radiologist, who is a physician with special skills and expertise in supervising and interpreting
radiology examinations, will analyze the images and send an official report to your primary care
physician or physician who referred you for the exam, who will discuss the results with you.

Follow-up examinations may be necessary. Your doctor will explain the exact reason why another exam
is requested. Sometimes a follow-up exam is done because a potential abnormality needs further
evaluation with additional views or a special imaging technique. A follow-up examination may also be
necessary so that any change in a known abnormality can be monitored over time. Follow-up
examinations are sometimes the best way to see if treatment is working or if a finding is stable or changed
over time.

What are the benefits vs. risks?

Benefits
CT scanning is painless, noninvasive and accurate.
A major advantage of CT is its ability to image bone, soft tissue and blood vessels all at the same
time.
Unlike conventional x-rays, CT scanning provides very detailed images of many types of tissue as
well as the lungs, bones, and blood vessels.
CT examinations are fast and simple; in emergency cases, they can reveal internal injuries and
bleeding quickly enough to help save lives.
CT has been shown to be a cost-effective imaging tool for a wide range of clinical problems.
CT is less sensitive to patient movement than MRI.
CT can be performed if you have an implanted medical device of any kind, unlike MRI.
A diagnosis determined by CT scanning may eliminate the need for exploratory surgery and
surgical biopsy.
No radiation remains in a patient's body after a CT examination.
X-rays used in CT scans should have no immediate side effects.

Risks

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 There is always a slight chance of cancer from excessive exposure to radiation. However, the
benefit of an accurate diagnosis far outweighs the risk.
The effective radiation dose for this procedure varies. See the Safety page for more information
about radiation dose.
Women should always inform their physician and x-ray or CT technologist if there is any
possibility that they are pregnant. See the Safety page for more information about pregnancy and
x-rays.
CT scanning is, in general, not recommended for pregnant women unless medically necessary
because of potential risk to the baby. This risk is, however, minimal with head CT scanning.
Manufacturers of intravenous contrast indicate mothers should not breastfeed their babies for 24-48
hours after contrast medium is given. However, both the American College of Radiology (ACR)
and the European Society of Urogenital Radiology note that the available data suggest that it is safe
to continue breastfeeding after receiving intravenous contrast. For further information please
consult the ACR Manual on Contrast Media and its references.
The risk of serious allergic reaction to contrast materials that contain iodine is extremely rare, and
radiology departments are well-equipped to deal with them.
Because children are more sensitive to radiation, they should have a CT exam only if it is essential
for making a diagnosis and should not have repeated CT exams unless absolutely necessary. CT
scans in children should always be done with low-dose technique.

What are the limitations of CT Scanning of the Head?

A person who is very large may not fit into the opening of a conventional CT scanner or may be over the
weight limit—usually 450 pounds—for the moving table.

Compared to MR imaging, the precise details of soft tissue (particularly the brain, including the disease
processes) are less visible on CT scans. CT is not sensitive in detecting inflammation of the
meninges—the membranes covering the brain.

Disclaimer
This information is copied from the RadiologyInfo Web site (http://www.radiologyinfo.org) which is dedicated to
providing the highest quality information. To ensure that, each section is reviewed by a physician with expertise in
the area presented. All information contained in the Web site is further reviewed by an ACR (American College of
Radiology) - RSNA (Radiological Society of North America) committee, comprising physicians with expertise in
several radiologic areas.

However, it is not possible to assure that this Web site contains complete, up-to-date information on any particular
subject. Therefore, ACR and RSNA make no representations or warranties about the suitability of this information
for use for any particular purpose. All information is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty.

Please visit the RadiologyInfo Web site at http://www.radiologyinfo.org to view or download the latest
information.

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Note: Images may be shown for illustrative purposes. Do not attempt to draw conclusions or make diagnoses by
comparing these images to other medical images, particularly your own. Only qualified physicians should interpret
images; the radiologist is the physician expert trained in medical imaging.

Copyright
This material is copyrighted by either the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), 820 Jorie Boulevard, Oak
Brook, IL 60523-2251 or the American College of Radiology (ACR), 1891 Preston White Drive, Reston, VA
20191-4397. Commercial reproduction or multiple distribution by any traditional or electronically based
reproduction/publication method is prohibited.

Copyright ® 2019 Radiological Society of North America, Inc.

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