Computed tomography produces cross-sectional images using X-ray, offering superior bone detail and rapid acquisition. It is the standard initial study in acute trauma and for suspected intracranial bleeding.
It involves ionizing radiation and shows soft tissue less clearly than MRI.
Alternative Names:
Computed Tomography, CAT Scan
Why it Matters?
CT is typically the first imaging obtained after trauma, which makes it the contemporaneous record of what was present immediately after the incident. A normal head CT in the emergency department is significant evidence in mild traumatic brain injury litigation, and the absence of acute findings on an initial CT weighs against injuries later attributed to the event. It also documents fractures precisely for classification.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Why is CT used first in trauma?
What does a normal head CT establish?
