How to read a head CT

The mnemonic used by Dr. Andrew Perron who lectures on this topic frequently is: Blood Can Be Very Bad. Content
and images below are taken from his lecture (with his permission).

This stands for

B - blood
C - cisterns
B - brain
V - ventricles
B - bones

1. Blood

Step: 1

Look for any evidence of bleeding throughout all slices of the head CT.

Blood will appear bright white and is typically in the range of 50-100 Houndsfield units.

Basic categories of blood in the brain are epidural, subdural, intraparenchymal/intracerebral, intraventricular, and
subarachnoid.

Epidural (lens shaped, does not cross suture lines)

Subdural (crescent shaped, does cross suture lines)
Intraparenchymal /intracerbral hemorrhage (high density bleeds most often in the basal ganglia area if due to
HTN)
Intraventricular hemorrhage
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (due most often to aneurysms, CT sensitivity decreases sharply with time)
2. Cisterns

Step: 2

2 Key questions to answer regarding the 4 key cisterns (Circummesencephalic, Suprasellar, Quadrigeminal and
Sylvian)

- Is there blood?
-Are the cisterns open?

Circummesencephalic cistern
Suprasellar cistern

Quadrigeminal cistern
Sylvian cistern
3. Brain

Step: 3

Examine the brain for

Symmetry - make sure sulci and gyri appear the same on both sides. (easiest when patient not rotated in the
scanner)

Grey-white differentiation - the earliest sign of a CVA on CT scan is the loss of the grey-white interface on CT
scan. Compare side to side.

Shift - the falx should be in the midline with ventricles the same on both sides. Check for effacement of sulci
(unilateral or bilateral).

Hyper/hypodenisty - blood, calcification and IV contrast are hyperdense (appear lighter) and air, fat and areas of
tumor ischemia are hypodense (appear darker).

4. Ventricles

Step: 4

Examine for IIIrd, IVth and lateral ventricles for dilation or compression/shift.
Pathologic processes cause dilation (hydrocephalus) or compression/shift. Communicating vs. Non-communicating.
Communicating hydrocephalus is first evident in dilation of the temporal horns (normally small, slit-like). The
lateral, IIIrd, and IVth ventricles need to be examined for effacement, shift, and blood.

5. Bone

Step: 5

Bone has the highest density on CT scan (whitest in appearance.) Evaluate for fracture.