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Brain CT scan
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A brain CT scan uses X-rays to create many images of the head. Picture a loaf of bread cut into slices: a computer gathers those slices and can arrange them in different planes or build a three-dimensional view.
The images show the brain, skull, soft tissues, and blood vessels. A head CT can reveal bleeding or injuries, but an image does not explain itself. This overview describes how the images are made and what structures they show, not what a particular result means.
In brief
A brain CT scan is an imaging study that uses specialized X-ray equipment to create multiple images of the inside of the head. A computer can rearrange them into different planes and even produce three-dimensional reconstructions.
The computer assembles thin slices into different planes.
A head CT can show structures including the brain, skull, soft tissues, and blood vessels, and it is used to detect problems such as bleeding or injuries. The images provide anatomical information; this overview does not interpret an individual's results.
Sources (1)
- Radiological Society of North America and American College of RadiologyHead CTPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
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