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Pros, Cons and Side Effects of a CT Brain Scan Benefits of a CT Brain
Scan
- Painless
- Fast
- Inexpensive
- Allows for precise viewing of the brain tissues
- Very useful for biopsies
- Allows for trauma victims to get immediate diagnosis
Risks and limitations of a CT brain scan
The precise details of soft tissue are less visible on CT brain scans than
they are on images created by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), a technique
that uses magnetic field and radio waves to create images of parts of the body.
This is because CT does not detect inflammation of the mengines, the membranes
that cover the brain. CT head scans are also not as sensitive in the detection
of aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations of the brain as conventional angiography.
Risks associated with a CT brain scan include:
- Radiation exposure
- Not suitable for pregnant women
- Requires patient to lie still for long periods of time
- Patients with chronic pain may require sedatives
- Patient may have to hold his or her breath during the scan
- Allergic reaction to contrast material
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