CT HEAD WITHOUT CONTRAST (last updated 10/28/2020, last reviewed 02/07/2022)
INDICATION: Headache, seizure, ataxia, stroke, r/o bleed, trauma, AMS, neurologic defect.
SERIES
- Axial Brain
- Axial Bone
- Coronal Brain (3 mm)
- Sagittal Brain (3 mm)
| | |
|
POSITIONING/MODE
|
supine/axial - sequential angle with canthomeatal line (see image below) |
|
kV/mA/rot time
|
120 kV/automA/<1sec |
|
SLICE THICKNESS
|
5 mm |
|
PITCH
|
Pitch 1 to 1.5 |
|
KERNAL
|
std brain and bone (if trauma or bone abnormality) |
|
SFOV
|
less than 24 cm |
|
COVERAGE
|
foramen magnum -> vertex |
|
ACQUISITION
|
caudocranial |
|
IV CONTRAST
|
none |
|
CTDIvol
|
<75 mGy |
|
POSTPROCESSING
|
Axial brain Axial bone Coronal Brain (3 mm) Sagittal Brain (3 mm) |
NOTES:
***For pediatric patients (<18 yo) follow ALARA principle and use pediatric specific technical parameters per respective CT scanner***
Angle with canthomeatal line