Computerized tomography (CT) in acute head trauma. 1976

J Merino-deVillasante, and J M Taveras

The retrospective evaluation of 100 cases of head trauma that were subjected to computerized tomography (CT) leads to the following conclusions: (1) Computerized tomography and plain skull survey, should be the first neuroradiological procedures to perform. (2) Angiography may be carried out after computerized tomography when necessary, but as proved by this series, it will be needed in a relatively small number of cases. These include patients with technically limited CT scans or those in whom the possibility of an associated vascular lesion of the cervical or intracranial vessel is clinically suspected. (3) It is essential to obtain CT scans of the best possible quality. Sedation will be required in many instances, but this is considered worth doing because a normal CT scan, without significant technical limitations, will exclude the presence of lesions requiring prompt surgical intervention. Those patients who require surgery will need general anesthesia under any circumstances. (4) There is generally a direct relationship between the severity of clinical presentation and the CT demonstration of the abnormality responsible for the clinical status. Seventy percent of the patients clinically diagnosed as contusion had positive CT scans, and for all practical purposes, 100 percent of patients having trauma more severe than our Group III (contusion) had abnormal CT scans. Likewise, the number and intensity of tissue abnormalities on CT scans increase proportionately with the severity of the clinical signs and symptons. (5) It is foreseen that, with the advent of faster computerized tomographic scanners, the usefulness of this method will increase further, owing to a reduction in the total examination time and the lessened requirement for sedation.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D001927 Brain Diseases Pathologic conditions affecting the BRAIN, which is composed of the intracranial components of the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. This includes (but is not limited to) the CEREBRAL CORTEX; intracranial white matter; BASAL GANGLIA; THALAMUS; HYPOTHALAMUS; BRAIN STEM; and CEREBELLUM. Intracranial Central Nervous System Disorders,Brain Disorders,CNS Disorders, Intracranial,Central Nervous System Disorders, Intracranial,Central Nervous System Intracranial Disorders,Encephalon Diseases,Encephalopathy,Intracranial CNS Disorders,Brain Disease,Brain Disorder,CNS Disorder, Intracranial,Encephalon Disease,Encephalopathies,Intracranial CNS Disorder
D001929 Brain Edema Increased intracellular or extracellular fluid in brain tissue. Cytotoxic brain edema (swelling due to increased intracellular fluid) is indicative of a disturbance in cell metabolism, and is commonly associated with hypoxic or ischemic injuries (see HYPOXIA, BRAIN). An increase in extracellular fluid may be caused by increased brain capillary permeability (vasogenic edema), an osmotic gradient, local blockages in interstitial fluid pathways, or by obstruction of CSF flow (e.g., obstructive HYDROCEPHALUS). (From Childs Nerv Syst 1992 Sep; 8(6):301-6) Brain Swelling,Cerebral Edema,Cytotoxic Brain Edema,Intracranial Edema,Vasogenic Cerebral Edema,Cerebral Edema, Cytotoxic,Cerebral Edema, Vasogenic,Cytotoxic Cerebral Edema,Vasogenic Brain Edema,Brain Edema, Cytotoxic,Brain Edema, Vasogenic,Brain Swellings,Cerebral Edemas, Vasogenic,Edema, Brain,Edema, Cerebral,Edema, Cytotoxic Brain,Edema, Cytotoxic Cerebral,Edema, Intracranial,Edema, Vasogenic Brain,Edema, Vasogenic Cerebral,Swelling, Brain
D001930 Brain Injuries Acute and chronic (see also BRAIN INJURIES, CHRONIC) injuries to the brain, including the cerebral hemispheres, CEREBELLUM, and BRAIN STEM. Clinical manifestations depend on the nature of injury. Diffuse trauma to the brain is frequently associated with DIFFUSE AXONAL INJURY or COMA, POST-TRAUMATIC. Localized injuries may be associated with NEUROBEHAVIORAL MANIFESTATIONS; HEMIPARESIS, or other focal neurologic deficits. Brain Lacerations,Acute Brain Injuries,Brain Injuries, Acute,Brain Injuries, Focal,Focal Brain Injuries,Injuries, Acute Brain,Injuries, Brain,Acute Brain Injury,Brain Injury,Brain Injury, Acute,Brain Injury, Focal,Brain Laceration,Focal Brain Injury,Injuries, Focal Brain,Injury, Acute Brain,Injury, Brain,Injury, Focal Brain,Laceration, Brain,Lacerations, Brain
D003201 Computers Programmable electronic devices designed to accept data, perform prescribed mathematical and logical operations at high speed, and display the results of these operations. Calculators, Programmable,Computer Hardware,Computers, Digital,Hardware, Computer,Calculator, Programmable,Computer,Computer, Digital,Digital Computer,Digital Computers,Programmable Calculator,Programmable Calculators
D003288 Contusions Injuries resulting in hemorrhage, usually manifested in the skin. Bruise,Bruises,Contusion
D006259 Craniocerebral Trauma Traumatic injuries involving the cranium and intracranial structures (i.e., BRAIN; CRANIAL NERVES; MENINGES; and other structures). Injuries may be classified by whether or not the skull is penetrated (i.e., penetrating vs. nonpenetrating) or whether there is an associated hemorrhage. Frontal Region Trauma,Head Injuries,Head Trauma,Occipital Region Trauma,Parietal Region Trauma,Temporal Region Trauma,Craniocerebral Injuries,Crushing Skull Injury,Forehead Trauma,Head Injuries, Multiple,Head Injury, Minor,Head Injury, Open,Head Injury, Superficial,Injuries, Craniocerebral,Injuries, Head,Multiple Head Injuries,Occipital Trauma,Open Head Injury,Superficial Head Injury,Trauma, Head,Craniocerebral Injury,Craniocerebral Traumas,Crushing Skull Injuries,Forehead Traumas,Frontal Region Traumas,Head Injuries, Minor,Head Injuries, Open,Head Injuries, Superficial,Head Injury,Head Injury, Multiple,Head Traumas,Injuries, Minor Head,Injuries, Multiple Head,Injuries, Open Head,Injuries, Superficial Head,Injury, Craniocerebral,Injury, Head,Injury, Minor Head,Injury, Multiple Head,Injury, Open Head,Injury, Superficial Head,Minor Head Injuries,Minor Head Injury,Multiple Head Injury,Occipital Region Traumas,Occipital Traumas,Open Head Injuries,Parietal Region Traumas,Region Trauma, Frontal,Region Trauma, Occipital,Region Trauma, Parietal,Region Traumas, Frontal,Region Traumas, Occipital,Region Traumas, Parietal,Skull Injuries, Crushing,Skull Injury, Crushing,Superficial Head Injuries,Temporal Region Traumas,Trauma, Craniocerebral,Trauma, Forehead,Trauma, Frontal Region,Trauma, Occipital,Trauma, Occipital Region,Trauma, Parietal Region,Trauma, Temporal Region,Traumas, Craniocerebral,Traumas, Forehead,Traumas, Frontal Region,Traumas, Head,Traumas, Occipital,Traumas, Occipital Region,Traumas, Parietal Region,Traumas, Temporal Region
D006406 Hematoma A collection of blood outside the BLOOD VESSELS. Hematoma can be localized in an organ, space, or tissue. Hematomas
D006407 Hematoma, Epidural, Cranial Accumulation of blood in the EPIDURAL SPACE between the SKULL and the DURA MATER, often as a result of bleeding from the MENINGEAL ARTERIES associated with a temporal or parietal bone fracture. Epidural hematoma tends to expand rapidly, compressing the dura and underlying brain. Clinical features may include HEADACHE; VOMITING; HEMIPARESIS; and impaired mental function. Cranial Epidural Hematoma,Hemorrhage, Cranial Epidural,Epidural Hemorrhage, Cranial,Extradural Hematoma, Cranial,Extradural Hemorrhage, Cranial,Hematoma, Epidural, Intracranial,Intracranial Epidural Hematoma,Cranial Epidural Hematomas,Cranial Epidural Hemorrhage,Cranial Epidural Hemorrhages,Cranial Extradural Hematoma,Cranial Extradural Hematomas,Cranial Extradural Hemorrhage,Cranial Extradural Hemorrhages,Epidural Hematoma, Cranial,Epidural Hematoma, Intracranial,Epidural Hematomas, Cranial,Epidural Hematomas, Intracranial,Epidural Hemorrhages, Cranial,Extradural Hematomas, Cranial,Extradural Hemorrhages, Cranial,Hematoma, Cranial Epidural,Hematoma, Cranial Extradural,Hematoma, Intracranial Epidural,Hematomas, Cranial Epidural,Hematomas, Cranial Extradural,Hematomas, Intracranial Epidural,Hemorrhage, Cranial Extradural,Hemorrhages, Cranial Epidural,Hemorrhages, Cranial Extradural,Intracranial Epidural Hematomas
D006408 Hematoma, Subdural Accumulation of blood in the SUBDURAL SPACE between the DURA MATER and the arachnoidal layer of the MENINGES. This condition primarily occurs over the surface of a CEREBRAL HEMISPHERE, but may develop in the spinal canal (HEMATOMA, SUBDURAL, SPINAL). Subdural hematoma can be classified as the acute or the chronic form, with immediate or delayed symptom onset, respectively. Symptoms may include loss of consciousness, severe HEADACHE, and deteriorating mental status. Hemorrhage, Subdural,Subdural Hematoma,Subdural Hematoma, Traumatic,Hematoma, Traumatic Subdural,Hematomas, Subdural,Hematomas, Traumatic Subdural,Hemorrhages, Subdural,Subdural Hematomas,Subdural Hematomas, Traumatic,Subdural Hemorrhage,Subdural Hemorrhages,Traumatic Subdural Hematoma,Traumatic Subdural Hematomas
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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