neuroimaging

Question 1

What are the neuroimaging techniques?

Answer 1

1. ) plain x rays
2. ) CT (computed tomography)
3. ) MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
4. ) Cerebral angiography
5. ) Nuclear medicine

Question 2

When would you do a skull X-ray?

Answer 2

To check the skull after neurosurgery (generally rarely used)

Question 3

Advantages of using CT scanning

Answer 3

1. ) Better than MRI for demonstrating bone + calcification

2. ) Quicker scan times than MRI

Question 4

Disadvantages of using CT scanning

Answer 4

1. ) Dose of radiation. I CT head = 100 chest X-rays

2. ) Requires iodinated contrast media: potential allergic reaction

Question 5

Advantages of using MRI scanning

Answer 5

1. ) No ionising radiation
2. ) Multiple planes possible
3. ) Excellent anatomical detail

Question 6

Disadvantages of using MRI scanning

Answer 6

1. ) Contrast injection may be required
2. ) Strong magnetic field
3. ) Noisy + claustrophobic
4. ) Longer scan times than CT

Question 7

What strength magnets are generally used in MRI’s

Answer 7

1.5 or 3 tesla

Question 8

What plane is MRI done in

Answer 8

Axial (transverse) plane

Question 9

What is the coronal plane

Answer 9

Like looking at the back of someone’s head

Question 10

What is the sagittal plane

Answer 10

Like looking at someone’s brain at the side

Question 11

What’s a problem with having an image with a sagittal plane?

Answer 11

Not a symmetrical image

Question 12

What else can you use MRI for?

Answer 12

1.) To look at white matter fibre tracts

Question 13

What is nuclear medicine

Answer 13

• Uses radioactive tracers to assess bodily functions

Question 14

Disadvantages of nuclear medicine

Answer 14

• Image resolution is very poor compared to CT

- No grey/white matter differentiation

Question 15

Advantages of nuclear medicine

Answer 15

• Can see blood flow (used to see frontotemporal dementia)

- Can look at specific ligands

Question 16

Clinical cases

Answer 16

1. ) Extradural haematoma
2. ) Subdural haematoma
3. ) Diffuse axonal injury
4. ) Ring enhancing lesion
5. ) Cystic GBM
6. ) MS active inflammation