What is the scanning of the head?

The term scanning of the head can either refer to the cranial scanning of computer tomography (CT) or to magnetic resonance (MRI) head scanning. CT scanning and scanning MRI are non -invasive methods for creating pictures of the patient's head, including the brain, skull and other tissues. Each type of head scan is painless and provides doctors important information for diagnosing different conditions. In order to perform this head scan, the patient must lie on a table that inserts into the CT scanner. While the patient lies inside the scanner, the X -ray circulates around the body to help create individual images called slices. The contrasting dye can be injected into a vein to highlight blood vessels or look for a tumor. Cranial CT is used to diagnose and monitor various conditions, including brain tumor, brain infection, hydrocephalus and bleeding.

MRI heads use magnets and radio waves, instead of radiation, to create pictures of the inside of the head. Magnetic field created by scanner mRi forces hydrogen atoms in the patient's body to assemble in a specific way. When the scanner sends radio waves, it is reflected from the hydrogen atoms and the computer records their answer that creates images, also known as cuts.

To perform this type of head scan, it will also have to lie on a table that slips into the scanner. Small receivers are arranged around the head, called coils to help the radio waves. During MRI, contrasting dye IV can also be used to make the images clearer. MRI heads can be used to diagnose and monitor various conditions, including brain tumors, brain infections, multiple sclerosis and abnormal brain development.

Head scanning is usually perffermed using computer tomography when it is a factor, because CT scan takes only a few minutes, while scanning MRI can take up to an hour. CT scanners are usually available in emergency rooms inResults of hospitals. Examples of cases where scanning of the CT head may be more advantageous when the patient has the initial symptoms of stroke, acute trauma of the face and head or bleeding into the brain. However, scanning of the MRI head can be preferred to help provide information about the areas of the brain that is difficult to see in CT scan. Scanning of the head by displaying magnetic resonance can also show blood vessels, blood flow and fluid that surround the spinal cord and brain.