Head CT Scans

*Some information in this presentation

comes from outside sources*

Independent Study Mentorship

Spring 2016

Presented By: Aaron Lassmann

Mentor:

Kimberly Kirschner, MD

Site:

UTMB

ISM Teacher:

Mrs. Kristi Click

What is ISM?
Class for interested students in 11th and 12th grade
In-depth study of a particular field
Shadow a mentor in a chosen field
Work one-on-one with the mentor
Collegiate/Professional Level of Work
Construct or Complete a Collegiate/Professional Level Product
Build an online portfolio
Weekly Journals and Activity Logs

About My Mentor
Student: Aaron Lassmann
Mentor: Kimberly Kirschner, MD
Occupation: Radiologist and Residency Program Director
Employment: UTMB
Education:

Medical degree from UTMB

Residency in Radiology at UTMB
Fellowship in Body Imaging at MD Anderson
Board Certified in Radiology

Mentorship Site: UTMB

The University of Texas Medical Branch
Located in Galveston, Texas
Established in 1891 as the first
school in Texas
Operates numerous hospitals and
the area

medical
clinics in

Online Portfolio
http://aaronlassmannradiology.weebly.com

What is Radiology?
What is Radiology?
Radio = radiation, ology = academic study or practice of a
certain field
Radiology is a medical specialty that uses imaging to diagnose
and treat diseases seen within the body
Includes X-rays, CT scans, ultrasound, MRI, and PET scans

Why did I choose this topic?

Ive always had an interest in medicine
Last semester I focused on echocardiography and was
interested to see more types of diagnosing scans

Project?
Focuses on CT scans and head CT scans specifically

The CT Scan
Developed independently by Sir Godfrey Hounsfield and Dr. Alan Cormack
Jointly received the Nobel Prize in 1979

Installation of CT scans began in 1974

CT = computerized tomography
Also known as a CAT scan

(Computerized Axial Tomography)

Based on X-ray technology

Consists of many thin, cross-sectional slices
Think of viewing slices of a loaf of bread

Provides a better view of soft tissues than radiographs

Davis, Lawrence M., MD. "CT Scan (CAT Scan,

Computerized Axial
Tomography)."
EMedicineHealth. Ed. William C. Shiel.
WebMD, 12 Dec. 2012. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.

Benefits
Benefits
Painless, noninvasive and accurate
Images of many types of tissue as well as the lungs, bones, and blood vessel at one
time
Fast and simple
Cost-effective imaging tool for a wide range of clinical problems.
Less sensitive to movement than MRI
Can be performed with an implanted medical device of any kind
Diagnosis from CT may eliminate the need for invasive procedures
No lasting radiation

Davis, Lawrence M., MD. "CT Scan (CAT Scan, Computerized Axial
Tomography)." EMedicineHealth. Ed. William C. Shiel.
WebMD,
12 Dec. 2012. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.

Risks
Risks
Small chance of issues from the radiation dosage
The effective radiation dose for this procedure varies
Pregnant woman should avoid CT scans when possible due to the potential
risk of affecting the baby
Patients could have reactions to the materials in the contrast
Patients with kidney problems could experience issues handling intravenous
contrast (this is avoided if the problems are known)

Davis, Lawrence M., MD. "CT Scan (CAT Scan, Computerized Axial
Tomography)." EMedicineHealth. Ed. William C. Shiel.
WebMD,
12 Dec. 2012. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.

Reading a CT
Originally all of the cross-sectional images
were placed side by side
Today the images can be scrolled through and
analyzed on a computer
Denser areas appear brighter
Different modes allow for a focus on specific
tissues, i.e., bones, blood vessels, soft tissues
Goldman, Lee W. "Principles of CT and CT Technology." Journal of
Nuclear Medicine Technology. Society of Nuclear
Medicine and
Molecular Imaging, Sept. 2007. Web. 28
Feb. 2016.

Head CT Scans: What they look at?

Diagnostic mode of choice for head trauma
Provides images of the brain and its vessels
and ventricles, along with the surrounding
skull and eyes
Primarily used to look at infarction, tumors,
calcifications, hemorrhage and bone trauma
Can also look at skull fractures or other bone
damage in the head
Bones and structures of the ear may also be
viewed

Kleefield, Jonathan. "Head CT (Computed Tomography, CAT

Scan)." RadiologyInfo.org. Radiological Society of
North America, 12 Feb. 2014. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.

Common Uses
Used to detect:

bleeding, brain injury, and skull fractures

bleeding caused by a ruptured or leaking aneurysm
Strokes and associated bleeding or blood clots
brain tumors
Enlarged ventricles in patients with hydrocephalus
diseases or malformations of the skull

Additionally, it is performed to:

evaluate the extent of bone and soft tissue damage in patients with facial trauma, and planning surgical
reconstruction.
diagnose diseases of the temporal bone, which may be resulting in hearing problems.
determine inflammation or other changes in the sinuses
plan radiation therapy for cancer of the brain
Kleefield, Jonathan. "Head CT (Computed Tomography, CAT
Scan)." RadiologyInfo.org. Radiological Society
guide the passage of a needle used to obtain a biopsy
of North America, 12 Feb. 2014. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.
assess aneurysms or arteriovenous malformations

Specifics of Diseases and Issues

On this slide, I will provide a brief explanation of the relevant diseases and
issues
Head Trauma
Aneurysm
Stroke
Diagnose hearing problems
Sinus inflammation
Hydrocephalus
Malformation of the skull
Kleefield, Jonathan. "Head CT (Computed Tomography, CAT
Scan)." RadiologyInfo.org. Radiological Society
of
North America, 12 Feb. 2014. Web. 28 Feb.
2016.

Product
Case Studies

What Are Case Studies?

Stories that are used as a teaching tool to show the application of
a theory or concept
In medicine, they detail the diagnosis, signs, treatment, and
follow-up of a specific case
Invaluable use in education as anecdotal evidence and case-based
learning
Useful in facilitating the recognition of new diseases and the
effects of treatments
Vanderbilt University. "Case Studies." Center for
Teaching. Vanderbilt University, n.d.
Web. 28 Feb. 2016.

Case Studies
Highlight and explain the three case studies
Chosen broad topic areas
Head Trauma
Stroke
Brain Tumors

Thank You
Mentor:
Dr. Kimberly Kirschner, MD
Evaluators:
TBD
ISM Teacher:
Ms. Kristi Click, RN, BSN, MS
Parent:
Michelle Moore

Questions? Comments? Concerns?

Sources
Davis, Lawrence M., MD. "CT Scan (CAT Scan, Computerized Axial Tomography)."
EMedicineHealth. Ed. William C. Shiel. WebMD, 12 Dec. 2012. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.
Goldman, Lee W. "Principles of CT and CT Technology." Journal of Nuclear Medicine
Technology. Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Sept. 2007. Web. 28
Feb. 2016.
Kleefield, Jonathan. "Head CT (Computed Tomography, CAT Scan)."
RadiologyInfo.org. Radiological Society of North America, 12 Feb.
Feb. 2016.

2014. Web. 28

Mahajan, Kunal, MD. "Basics of Head CT." SlideShare. LinkedIn, 4 Mar. 2013. Web. 28
Feb. 2016.
Vanderbilt University. "Case Studies." Center for Teaching. Vanderbilt
n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.

University,

Pictures
http://
www.cedars-sinai.edu/Patients/Programs-and-Services/Imaging-Center/For
-Physicians/Neuroradiology/Images/CT-Brain-9541.jpg
https://
www.monsterpreps.com/data/highschools/logos/31144-homepage.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CT_scan
http://www.qcradiology.com/about_rad.html
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153201.php
https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Alberta/Pages/acquired-brain-injury.aspx