A CT scan is able to discern a higher amount of detail compared to an x-ray. When conducted for the head, it can help reveal the surrounding soft tissues and blood vessels that help the doctor make a diagnosis. In this article, we find out what a CT scan for the head entails, its procedure, and the possible risks associated with it.
What Is A Head CT Scan?
A head CT scan is a 2D representation of the head and neck area. CT scans, commonly known as computed tomography scans, are a type of diagnostic imaging test used to make a diagnosis for certain medical conditions.
A CT scan takes three-dimensional pictures of the head using x-ray beams. These images are called “slices” and allow your doctor to view the skull, sinuses, brain, and eye sockets along with the surrounding area to diagnose a range of conditions.
What Does CT Scan Of The Head Show?
The skull is made up of bones, and a CT scan produces images to identify injuries or tumors to the head. Moreover, a CT scan of the head is used to plan appropriate treatment, such as radiation therapy to cure brain cancers.
A head CT scan is preferred over an MRI for patients who have a pacemaker or any other implanted medical device. While an MRI can also be conducted, producing better quality images of soft tissue, it’s normally not preferred. This is because it uses magnets and therefore isn’t safe for patients with medical device implants.
Patients with no medical device implants may be recommended an MRI to have a clearer image of the brain and head and what’s happening inside. Sometimes an MRI is done after the CT scan has been taken.
When Does A Doctor Request A Head CT Scan?
Any kind of emergency calls for a CT scan of the head. It helps carry out a diagnosis or determine the success rate of a treatment. Following are some reasons your doctor may request a CT scan of the head. These are as follows:
- If you have suffered possible trauma to the head, such as injury to the soft tissues, bone injury, or brain bleeding, the doctor may order to look for signs and extent of the damage.
- To look for any signs of brain abnormality or brain tumor.
- To check the success and effectiveness of medical treatment for a brain tumor.
- To check whether there are signs of brain bleeding or blood clot to assess a person having stroke-like symptoms.
- To check birth abnormalities due to birth conditions that may affect the development of the brain.
- To check and evaluate hydrocephalus in a patient. It’s a condition that causes the brain ventricles to become enlarged, posing a life risk.
Any brain-related symptoms that affect a person’s movement or personality can prompt the doctor to order a head CT scan. It ensures that any type of brain abnormality isn’t the underlying cause of a disease or health problem.
How to Prepare For A Head CT Scan
You should be mindful of certain precautions before and during the CT scan. The imaging center where you book your test will also help you prepare for it. For instance, you may be asked to refrain from eating or drinking on the day of the scan for a certain period before the scan.
This will help ensure image quality, which is essential to get to the root of the problem. Other than that, you will receive a contrast dye intravenously at the imaging center before the scan.
The technician will also ask you to remove any jewelry you are wearing. Furthermore, they will ask you to change into a hospital gown. However, a head CT scan is usually painless, and the results will be sent to your doctor immediately. They will review them and discuss your diagnosis and the next steps with you.
Read Our Blog on How much does a CT Scan costs?
What Is the Procedure for the Scan
You should be well aware of the procedure of the scan before going in for the appointment so that there are no unexpected surprises. Clarity of the procedure will also help you relax. Your doctor will give you detailed directives for the day of the scan.
For all these symptoms, the best possible solutions are steroids or diphenhydramine before the scan. Its combination with the dye can lead to different reactions in some people.
A contrast dye essentially makes certain areas of the body appear on the scan easily. However, a contrast dye is not an essential part of all scans. Other than that, you will have to give your medical history and let the doctor know of any health conditions that possibly affect your health. These can include heart disease, kidney disease, thyroid problems, and asthma.
Some conditions can also affect the body’s ability to receive an intravenous contrast dye, so it is important to be clear about it. You will be asked to lie on a bed inside a circle-shaped machine with a hole in the center. This is the scanner. It is usually open so that you won’t feel as claustrophobic.
The technician conducting the scan will communicate with you through a speaker. They will let you know before beginning the scan. When it begins, x-ray beams surround your head and then return to the scanner to transmit images on the screen.
After the first scan, the technician will give the IV contrast material and begin the scan again. They will review the scan images to ensure they are free of any blurring and are of the required quality.
What Are the Risks in Head CT Scan
A head CT scan is generally a safe procedure as it is noninvasive and painless. However, there can be some risks as the procedure uses radiation. Overexposure to radiation can lead to the development of cancer.
However, this doesn’t mean that one procedure puts you at risk of cancer. Before the scan, you can ask your doctor if you should be concerned about the radiation dose and whether it puts you at risk.
A doctor will most likely not request a head CT scan for pregnant women. However, as one scan poses minimal risk, it is up to the physician to advise whether the benefits outweigh the risk. Another risk to consider when getting a CT scan for the head is the noise.
It can sometimes be noisy and cause disturbance to the patient. It can also induce anxiety in some people due to the closed space of the CT scanner. Such people are often given a sedative before going into the CT scanner.
The contrast dye used for the CT scan poses a risk of allergic reaction. The dye can also cause other symptoms which may be unpleasant for the time being. These include feeling warmth in the body, a metallic taste in the mouth, or a burning sensation. For all these symptoms, the best possible solutions are steroids or diphenhydramine before the scan.
CT Head Scans in Children
Children can also be asked to get a head CT scan. If a child experiences an injury or has a history of any kind of brain abnormalities, then a CT scan would be recommended to find out the possible diagnosis and begin treatment.
A CT scan of the head in children is relatively quick. However, older kids may still stay still long enough to conduct the scan. In the case of babies, the procedure may be carried out under anesthesia.
However, in children, a CT scan is only done when it becomes absolutely necessary, as they are more sensitive to radiation compared to adults. A technician will most probably adjust radiation to the lowest radiation when conducting the scan for a child.
Results of the Procedure
Once the results of the CT scan become available, a radiologist will read them to prepare a report of their findings. The radiologist will look for any signs of damage and abnormalities in the brain and surrounding tissues. Then they will share the report with the doctor who asked for the scan.
If the CT scan were part of an emergency situation, the radiologist would quickly share any concerning results with the doctor right away.
Conclusion
A head CT scan is an important diagnostic imaging scan that can potentially save a life and prevent lifelong injury to the brain. You should visit a reliable and professional service center that offers affordable CT scan services in NJ.
Your technician should guide you properly before and after the scan. A CT scan of the head enables the doctor to diagnose the root cause of the disease and devise the best possible treatment plan. It also helps track the effectiveness of the treatment and make changes to the plan if necessary.