Computer tomography of the brain - the method of X-ray examination, which allows to obtain the image of the object in various projections.
What does the computer tomography of the brain show?
With computer tomography of the brain, diseases of gray and white brain matter, disorders in the meninges, vessels and surrounding tissues are revealed. CT of the brain helps identify foci of inflammation, identify benign and malignant tumors, and develop abnormalities in children.
Indications for the purpose of the diagnostic procedure are as follows:
- trauma to the skull with suspected fracture and bone dislocation or damage to structures;
- assumptions about the presence of a tumor in the brain, metastasis in the brain;
- disorders of blood circulation, including, as a result of a stroke or heart attack;
- confirmation of the presence (absence) of pathologies of cerebral vessels, aneurysms;
- inflammation of the brain (meningitis, encephalitis)
- analysis of the temporal bone with a significant decrease in hearing;
- pathology of nervous tissue;
- performing operations on the brain.
Particularly convenient is that it is possible to diagnose with CT even to a person who is in a serious condition, for example, with a serious brain injury.
Like many hardware diagnostic procedures, computed tomography of the brain has a number of contraindications, including:
- intolerance to iodine or contrast agent;
- pregnancy, especially in the first trimester (X-rays can harm the fetus);
- severe pain syndrome;
- hyperkinesis (uncontrolled movements);
- kidney failure (due to problems of contrast removal).
In addition, computed tomography is not recommended for breastfeeding mothers, since the contrast easily penetrates into breast milk. If the procedure should be carried out, the woman is warned that during the two days after the examination the child should not be breast-fed.
How is computed tomography of the brain performed?
The study of the structures of the brain is carried out with the help of a CT scanner and X-rays. Typically, an iodine-based contrast agent is injected into the bloodstream to improve visualization. Currently, an innovative spiral computed tomography of the brain, which has a stronger spatial resolution and gives a lower radiation load on the body.
The patient is located on the tomograph table, which subsequently moves into the apparatus. Inside the scanner, the rays are scanned, and black-and-white images are displayed on the monitor screen
More complex and expensive variants of examination of the brain are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET). These methods allow us to present the brain in the smallest detail. In addition, with PET, color images of the layers of the brain are produced, which allows for more accurate diagnosis.
What are the consequences of computed tomography of the brain?
Sometimes patients refuse to perform a tomography, believing that the procedure causes significant harm to the health. In fact, the special design of the device allows to reduce the radiation dose to a minimum, therefore computed tomography of cerebral vessels practically does not pose a threat to the patient's health, even if it is carried out repeatedly for a short period of time.