PHYSICIAN'S CORNER
Craniocerebral Trauma
Return to the Physician's Corner - CT is the examination of choice to evaluate acute head trauma. MRI is preferred for old trauma.
- MRI is indicated when CT findings are discrepant or do not fully explain the clinical situation.
- MRI is indicated when diffuse exonal injury or non-accidental trauma (child abuse) is suspected.
- MRI is useful to evaluate the posterior fossa extra-axial location, when CT may be limited due streaking artifacts.
- Do CT brain scan without contrast if the head injury occurred within previous 2 -3 days. If the head injury occurred more then 3 days ago and patient is symptomatic, do either CT brain scan with and without contrast or MRI without contrast. In a patient who has neurolgic deficit and head injury happened more then 2 weeks ago, MRI will be more helpful.