Brain CT Scans in Clinical Practice (eBook)

Usiakimi Igbaseimokumo (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2009 | 1. Auflage
XII, 115 Seiten
Springer-Verlag
978-1-84882-365-5 (ISBN)

Infos

Across emergency rooms all over the world, thousands of patients are referred for brain CT scans daily. A radiologist often has to interpret the scan or a consultation has to be made to a neuros- geon to review the scan. Most of this happens late at night and is a signi?cant source of discontent. Thus having frontline phy- cians to be pro?cient in interpreting the emergency brain CT scan improves the ef?ciency of the whole pathway of care and is pot- tially life saving as time is of the essence for many patients with severe brain injury or stroke. Underlying all of the above and the primary reason for writing this book is because the skill required to determine an immediate life threatening abnormality in a brain CT scan is so basic and can be learned in a short time by people of various backgrounds and certainly by all physicians. 'Indeed the emergency head CT scan is comparable to an electrocardiogram in usefulness and most de?nitely as easy to learn. ' This book is therefore written for ca- givers the world over to demystify the emergency CT brain scan and to empower them to serve their patients better. It is obvious to me from the response from people I have had opportunity to teach this subject that not only is there a desire to learn this basic skill but also people learn it quickly and wonder why it has not been presented so simply before.

Inhalt

Preface 5
Foreword 6
Acknowledgements 8
Contents 9
1 Introduction to the Basics of Brain CT Scan 11
Three Basic Densities or Different Shades of Grey 11
The Density of Blood Changes with Time! 14
Symmetry--Mirror Image 15
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Spaces -- The Compass of Brain CT Scan 16
Identifying Abnormalities in the CSF Spaces 19
Brain Swelling 21
Brain Tumours 22
Extra Axial and Intra Axial Lesions 22
Basic Anatomy of the Brain Surface 24
2 Head Injury 32
Introduction Intracranial Haematomas 32
Acute, Subacute and Chronic Subdural Haematomas 33
The Brain Coverings (Meninges) and the Subarachnoid Space 34
The Parts of the Skull and Naming of Haematomas 36
The Base of the Skull 39
The 5S s of Any Haematoma 40
The First S Stands for Size 41
The Second S Therefore Stands for S ymptoms and Signs 41
The Third S Stands for S hifts and Serious Consequences 43
The Fourth S Stands for S ide 43
The 5th S stands for the S ite of the Haematoma 44
3 Brain Haemorrhage and Infarction -- Stroke 51
Subarachnoid Haemorrhage 51
First Clue in SAH Is the Clinical History 54
Where to Look for SAH -- Usual Locations 57
The Interhemispheric Fissure 57
The Sylvian Fissures 57
The Ambient Cisterns 58
Prepontine Cisterns 59
Associated Features or Complications: The H.I.G.H of SAH 60
Hydrocephalus as a Subtle Sign of SAH 60
Hydrocephalus as an Acute Emergency 61
Infarction 62
Giant Aneurysms 63
Haematoma 66
Epilogue on CT Scan for SAH 67
Spontaneous Intracerebral Haematoma 67
Usual Locations and Aetiology 69
Basic CT Scan Internal Landmarks 70
Ischemic Stroke (Cerebral Infarction) 74
T-- Stands for the Territory -- the Vascular Territory 77
H Stands for Hypodensity 77
O Stands for Oedema 78
SStands for Swelling and Shifts 79
EStands for Evolution 79
4 Hydrocephalus 81
Introduction 81
The Temporal Horns and Third Ventricle in Early Hydrocephalus 81
Effacement of the Sulci 83
Disproportionately Small Fourth Ventricle 85
The Frontal and Occipital Horns 87
Periventricular Lucencies 88
Previously Diagnosed Hydrocephalus 89
Causes of Hydrocephalus 92
Foramen of Munro -- Colloid Cyst 94
Cerebral Aqueduct of Sylvius 95
Fourth Ventricle Obstruction 96
5 Tumours and Infection s ( SOL) 97
Introduction 97
M is for Mass Effect 97
E is for Enhancement 98
A is for Appearance 103
L is for Location 104
Special Locations 107
Red Flags 108
6 Advanced Uses of Brain CT Scan 110
3D Renditions: Craniosynostosis 110
3D Renditions: CT Angiography 110
Subtleties 111
Index 113

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 28.4.2009
• Zusatzinfo: XII, 110 p. 108 illus., 48 illus. in color.
• Verlagsort: London
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Medizin / Pharmazie ► Medizinische Fachgebiete ► Allgemeinmedizin
• Themenwelt: Medizin / Pharmazie ► Medizinische Fachgebiete ► Innere Medizin
• Themenwelt: Medizin / Pharmazie ► Medizinische Fachgebiete ► Neurologie
• Themenwelt: Medizin / Pharmazie ► Medizinische Fachgebiete ► Notfallmedizin
• Themenwelt: Medizinische Fachgebiete ► Radiologie / Bildgebende Verfahren ► Radiologie
• Themenwelt: Medizin / Pharmazie ► Pflege
• Schlagworte: brain • Computed tomography (CT) • electrocardiogram (ECG) • electrocardiogram(ECG) • electrocardiogram (ECG) • emergency Brain CT Scan • Head • Head Injury • Hydrocephalus • Infection • stroke • Tumor
• ISBN-10: 1-84882-365-7 / 1848823657
• ISBN-13: 978-1-84882-365-5 / 9781848823655