Ct scan dects brain aneurysms? is it possible for a ct scan without contrast to reveal an unruptured brain aneurysm? is the test meant to find that sort of thing?

It : It is possible for a noncontrast ct to reveal an unruptured aneurysm, but generally this is a very poor test for aneurysm evaluation. A noncontrast head ct will usually only finding very large aneurysms and smaller aneurysms will almost always be overlooked. A mr angiogram may be performed to screen for aneurysm; this uses no intravenous contrast and is performed in a standard MRI machine. A ct angiogram can also screen for aneurysm; this uses intravenous iodinated contrast scan and is performed in a multidetector ct scanner. A conventional angiogram is the gold standard in evaluation for aneurysm; this is performed by placing a needle and catheter into an artery in the groin and then injecting iodinated contrast into the arteries of the neck while taking x-ray images of the head.

NOT THE BEST WAY: Mri with contrast will pickup most large aneurysms over the blood vessels of the brain, and a cat angio or a magnetic resonance angio would be used to find smaller aneurysms. Standard cat not usually successful.

Unlikely: A ct scan of the head without contrast is meant to look for bleeding, not aneurysms. Unless and aneurysm is quite large and/or has a thrombus in it, it is unlikely to be seen on a non contrast ct scan. A cta or mra are good diagnostic tests for detecting brain aneurysms.