CT Brain - Uses, Procedure, and Risks

Introduction:

A CT brain is an imaging technique that uses special X-rays to evaluate the structures of the brain (cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum, and brain stem). It is also called computed tomography or CT scan. CT brain provides horizontal or axial images of the brain called slices. CT scan can be done with or without contrast material. It is often not required, but the choice is left up to the physician’s decision.

What Are the Uses of the CT Brain?

CT brain is used in the diagnosis of the following conditions:

• Brain mass or tumor (cancer).

• Hemorrhage (bleeding from a damaged blood vessel).

• Hydrocephalus (collection of fluid in the brain cavities).

• Bone abnormalities.

• Trauma or fracture of the skull.

• Stroke (damage to the brain from lack of blood supply).

• Blood clot.

• Severe headache.

• Check the effectiveness of the treatments in brain cancer.

• Symptoms of damage to the part of the brain such as numbness, vision problems, muscle weakness, hearing loss, and speaking difficulties.

What Are the Factors to Be Considered in a CT Brain?

• Pregnancy - Ladies who are pregnant or suspect they might be pregnant should inform the doctor. Radiation exposure in pregnant women causes birth defects in the fetus in the womb.

• Claustrophobia - Afraid of closed spaces.

• Breastfeeding - Lactating mothers may be instructed not to feed for about 24 hours after the scan because the contrast material may pass through the breast milk.

• Kidney Diseases - Patients with kidney disorders or renal failure should notify the doctor.

• Diabetic Patients - Diabetic patients who are taking Metformin medicine must inform their doctor before the scan. They may be asked to stop the medicine 48 hours after the administration of contrast material, as it may cause metabolic acidosis (a buildup of acid in the body due to kidney disease). A blood test may be needed before continuing the medicine to check kidney function.

How Should Patients Prepare for the CT Brain?

• Patients can take their regular diet and medicines before the scan.

• If the scan includes contrast material, patients would be advised not to eat or drink anything for about four to six hours before the scan.

• Diabetic patients should have light food three hours before the scan.

• Patients should Inform the doctor about their medical conditions and their regular medicines.

• They should not wear jewelry, eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures, or hairpins which may affect the quality of the image.

• Patients should inform their doctor if they have had any allergic reactions to contrast material previously.

• Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels must be taken within 72 hours of the contrast CT scan.

How Is the CT Brain Taken?

• During CT brain, the patients may be asked to remove their clothes and jewelry and to wear the gown provided by them.

• If the procedure requires contrast, the contrast material (a special dye) is injected into the veins through an intravenous (IV) line. The patient may feel warm throughout the body when the dye passes through the veins, or it may be given orally by asking the patient to drink the contrast liquid.

• The patient will be asked to lie on a flat table at the center of the scanner. Pillows may be used to prevent them from moving during the scan, which affects the clarity of the image.

• The technician controls the scanner with remote control from a separate room. Speakers inside the room help in communication between the technician and the patient. The technician will constantly observe the patient through a window during the scan. The patient will be provided a button to press so that they can communicate with the technician if facing any difficulties during the scan.

• Once the patient is ready, the scanner begins to rotate around. X-rays from the scanner will pass through the body at different angles and are absorbed by the tissues in the body. The scanner will detect this and transmit it to the computer. The computer processes the information into slices. This process is repeated to get a number of slices. These slices are arranged to get the images (3D) on the computer screen. The patient may be asked to hold their breath for a few seconds in between the scan at various times to get quality images.

• Once the scan is finished, the technician will check the images and sometimes may repeat the scan if the images are not clear or may require additional images.

• After CT brain, the patient may continue their regular diet and activities. They would be instructed to drink plenty of water to flush out the contrast material from the body.

What Are the Risks Associated With CT Brain?

The risks of CT brain are low. Some of them are:

• Radiation Exposure - There is a slight chance of cancer from increased radiation exposure.

• Kidney Damage From Contrast Dye - Contrast material used in the scan may worsen the condition in patients having kidney failure or kidney disorder.

• Allergic Reactions to the Contrast Material - The most common type of contrast material used in the scan contains iodine. Side effects of iodine contrast are:

  • Headache.

  • Itching.

  • Hives (skin rashes).

Some of the severe symptoms of contrast materials are:

• Difficulty in breathing.

• Rapid heart rate.

• Low blood pressure.

• Swelling of the body parts.

What Are the Alternatives for CT Brain?

For diagnosing brain disorders, imaging techniques other than CT scans may be useful. They are:

• X-rays.

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain.

• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan of the brain.

• Cerebral arteriogram (used to look at the blood vessels of the brain).

Conclusion:

CT brain is a painless, non-invasive imaging technique used in the diagnosis of brain disorders. As CT brain is fast and simple, it is useful in treating emergency conditions such as injuries and internal bleeding and can save many lives. CT scans can image bones, soft tissues, and blood vessels all at the same time. CT scan is also used as a guiding tool in fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and biopsy procedures by guiding the correct placement of needles or scalpels during the procedure. Also, guides the treatment procedure, such as brain surgery. Early diagnosis with a brain scan may eliminate the need for invasive brain surgery.