What does abnormal head CT scan mean?

What does abnormal head CT scan mean?

The abnormal CT scan was defined as any finding ascribed to head trauma including skull fracture, cerebral edema, epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma, cerebral contusion, intracerebral hematoma, intraventricular hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Does head CT scan have side effects?

Possible side effects or risks Side effects and risks for a cranial CT scan involve discomfort, exposure to radiation, and allergic reaction to the contrast dye. Discuss any concerns with your doctor before the test so you can assess the potential risks and benefits for your medical condition.

What happens if you get a CT scan on your head?

CT scans expose you to radiation. A CT scan uses X-rays to create images of the brain and skull. X-rays are a form of radiation which increases the risk of cancer over your lifetime. Risks from radiation exposure add up, so it is best to avoid unnecessary radiation when possible. Head injuries take time to get better.

Do repeated CT scans increase cancer risk?

March 31, 2009 — As many as 7\% of patients treated at a large U.S. hospital received enough radiation exposure from repeated CT scans to increase their cancer risk, according to a new study.

How much radiation do you get from a CT scan?

These survivors, who are estimated to have experienced doses only slightly larger than those encountered in CT, have demonstrated a small but increased radiation-related excess relative risk for cancer mortality. The effective doses from diagnostic CT procedures are typically estimated to be in the range of 1 to 10 mSv.

Why don’t doctors know how many CT scans you’ve had?

The fact that physicians often have no idea how many previous scans a patient has had has hampered efforts to reduce exposures in patients. Databases that keep track of previous CT scans, like the one used in the Harvard study, are not common, but Sodickson says they should be.