Just for fun, then I got to get to work -- here is another link. This one says you would not use a CAT scan to assess the amount of brain damage, you would use an MRI which, correct me if I am wrong, this woman has not had.
Dana http://www.birf.info/artman/publish/Ed-Brainimg_doc.shtml Medical Conditions & Interventions -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brain Imaging: CAT Scan and MRI By Florence C. Barnett, MD Sep 14, 2003, 17:52 Email this page Print this page In treating traumatic brain injury, viewing images of the brain, particularly injured areas, is crucial to the neurosurgeon for planning treatment. Images of the brain may be obtained through computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These techniques permit imaging of the brain for both diagnosis of injury and choosing therapeutic interventions. CT scanning uses a series of x-rays of the head taken from many different directions. The amount of radiation that passes through the head in each direction is measured and recorded. Many such measurements are taken from different directions at each level of the brain, from the top to the bottom. A computer program uses a set of algebraic equations to estimate how much x-ray is absorbed in a small area within a cross section of the brain. In this way, cross-sectional images are created at different levels throughout the brain. The CT scan is useful for quickly viewing brain injuries. The CT scan can localize epidural blood clots outside the lining of the brain, subdural blood clots inside the lining of the brain, and hemorrhages within brain tissue. The CT scan allows Neurosurgeons to assess the effects of bleeding on the brain, such as pressure moving sensitive brain tissue or decreasing blood flow to the brain. The CT scan also allows the Neurosurgeon to evaluate for swelling due to both tissue damage and dilated blood vessels within the brain. These conditions increase brain pressure and secondarily may decrease blood flow in the brain. These images, combined with physical examination, allow the Neurosurgeon to plan interventions, including removal of blood clots, controlling swelling, and monitoring brain pressure. CT scans can also be used to assess the size of the ventricles (the location where spinal fluid is produced) within the brain. If spinal fluid flow is blocked, the ventricles may become enlarged, a condition called hydrocephalus. In another condition, the ventricles may enlarge due to gradual loss of surrounding brain tissue, a condition called hydrocephalus ex vacuo. Because there is a fixed amount of space within the skull, if brain tissue is lost, then the ventricles enlarge to fill this space. This condition, unlike pressure hydrocephalus, does not require a shunting procedure to remove spinal fluid. MRI scanning, like CT, also uses computer programs to produce cross sectional images of the brain. Unlike CT scanning, the MRI scan uses a high intensity magnetic field to magnetically align hydrogen atoms within molecules in the brain. These hydrogen atoms then produce radio signals, which are located and measured, and then used by the computer program to produce cross sectional images. MRI scans can produce cross sectional images in any direction from top to bottom, as in CT scanning, from side to side, or from the front to the back of the head. MRI scans have a higher resolution compared to CT scans, and can show differences in brain tissues based on their fat and water content. Hydrogen in higher fat content areas, produces a radio signal more quickly than hydrogen in higher water content areas. The MRI scan takes advantage of this property to produce images of different structures in the brain. This allows the MRI scan to differentiate between gray and white matter within the brain. MRI scanning requires the patient to remain motionless for up to 20 minutes; therefore, it may not be possible to obtain an MRI scan in the early stages of a brain injury. For this reason, MRI scanning is often reserved for the latter stages of recovery. After the patient is more stable, an MRI scan can be used to assess the amount and location of brain injury. This information is used to plan treatments and therapies, and to predict recovery. CT and MRI scans are powerful tools for assessing and treating brain injury. The choice of scan depends upon the urgency of the information needed and ability of the subject to participate in the scanning procedure. For this reason, CT scans are often more used in the early stages of recovery to assess for life threatening conditions. MRI scans are most useful in assessing the amount and location of brain injury for planning therapies and predicting recovery. On Tue, 22 Mar 2005 10:12:53 -0800, Sam <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Yeah, the asshole didn't respond to my post about the ct scan and his > outdated 1996 report about how useless the ct scan is. But then went > and diagnosed the scan himself :) > > But then again he always forgets to respond when you prove him wrong. > > > On Tue, 22 Mar 2005 11:01:05 -0700, Dana wrote: > > well, give me credit at least for generally in facts and for being > > willing to re-valuate my position. > > But if I ever sounded like this while being this wrong, well hell, I > > apologize. Ask me about my facts or something next time willya? > > > > Larry, speaking of acting like an ass, I notice you haven't responded > > to the journal articles I posted last night. Peer-reviewed journals, > > articles less than two years old. That (incidentally) say you are full > > of it. > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Find out how CFTicket can increase your company's customer support efficiency by 100% http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=49 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:151258 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
