Question 1

what is a ct scan (brain) used for?

Accepted Answer

See the brain, skull: While xrays show the bones, a ct is sensitive enough to see the brain and its structures. Ct is vers useful to see blood, abnormal fluid collections, masses, areas of old or subacute stroke.  The skull, sinuses, scalp and facial bones, eyes, mouth are also seen.  Mri is even more sensitive for visualization of the brain and other soft tissue structures and may be required if the ct is positive.

Question 2

why would they want ct scan of brain?

Accepted Answer

Many reasons: There are many reasons to order a ct scan of the brain. Too numerous to list here. But i'm guessing your doctor has some clinical suspicion a process in the brain is responsible for your symptoms and is using a ct head to help make the diagnosis.

Question 3

what can they find out from a ct scan of your brain?

Accepted Answer

Many: Like stroke, bleeding, tumor, hydrocephalus,  atrophy, some birth defect etc.

Question 4

can ct scan damage brain , effect activity of brain?

Accepted Answer

No: The x ray radiation in a CT has no measurable or known effect on neural tissues. 1) dose is way too low and 2) nerves are relatively radioresistant since the cells don't reproduce very fast, if at all.
There is a theoretical risk of cataracts and cancer years later, but this is incredibly small esp. for a single scan and controversial anyway.

Question 5

just had a ct scan of brain. what do patchy areas mean?

Accepted Answer

Of what?: Patchy areas means that there area scattered areas of something on the scan. Usually in a head ct it will be patchy areas of white matter low attenuation/density. This finding is usually associated with aging and vascular disease but if it is in you and you're 26 then it is not normal aging and could be something like multiple sclerosis. Find out what it actually says though.

Question 6

what does a ct scan of the brain without contrast show?

Accepted Answer

Some things: CT scan of brain without contrast shows basic anatomy of brain, gray white matter differentiation, ventricles, and physiologic calcifications.Ventricles enlarged/ hydrocephalus, mass effect with displacement of normal structures,  some bleeding,abnormal calcifications in tumors or old subdural hematomas, fractures.CT with contrast  adds  enhancement of certain lesions not seen,hyper/hypo vascular.

Question 7

what could be wrong if a ct scan shows brain abnormalities?

Accepted Answer

CT sees many things: Ct is most commonly used to look for a stroke, bleed, cancer or traumatic injury.  Ct can see many other things which are too numerous to list.

Question 8

abnormality found on brain in ct scan. what could this mean?

Accepted Answer

It could be: Any of 100 different diagnoses. It depends on where in the brain, whether it involves the gray matter or white matter or cerebrospinal fluid chambers. We'd need more detail to comment.

Question 9

how useful is a ct scan for determining what's wrong with my brain?

Accepted Answer

Depends: It depends on what your symptoms are but it is a very useful test.

Question 10

had a ct scan at e.r. dr said it looked good. does that mean my brain is ok?

Accepted Answer

Sounds like it.: If the CT was a CT of your brain and the doctor said it looked good, I would assume that it was OK.  That is, good=OK.  What he really meant and what you really mean by OK remains  a mystery to me.  Please check with them to make sure - Get a copy of the report so you can see specifically what "good" is.

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What are disadvantages of a ct scan for brain

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What is a ct scan (brain) used for?

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Why would they want ct scan of brain?

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What can they find out from a ct scan of your brain?

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Can ct scan damage brain , effect activity of brain?

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Just had a ct scan of brain. what do patchy areas mean?

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What does a ct scan of the brain without contrast show?

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What could be wrong if a ct scan shows brain abnormalities?

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Abnormality found on brain in ct scan. what could this mean?

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How useful is a ct scan for determining what's wrong with my brain?

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Had a ct scan at e.r. dr said it looked good. does that mean my brain is ok?

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