Computed tomography of the brain: a guide to understanding and interpreting normal and abnormal images in the critically ill patient.
The computed tomography (CT) diagnosis of the neurologically impaired patient, both initially and as it evolves over time, is a critical factor in determining treatment and prognosis. As an integral part of the management team, it is vital that the critical care nurse have a firm understanding of the various diagnoses on an anatomic level. This article attempts to provide the fundamentals for understanding the technology and uses of CT imaging as well as performing a basic interpretation of normal and abnormal CT images in a variety of disease states.
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D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000451:nursing / Q000473:pathology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000451:nursing / Q000473:pathology; D016638:Critical Illness; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing*