Computerized Axial Tomography in Craniocerebral Trauma

Abstract

CAT has opened up new possibilities of assessing cranio cerebral in-juries (AMBROSE, 1973; AMBROSE, 1974; HACKER and BECKER, 1975; KAZNER et al. , 1975). Since extravascular blood is set off by its brightness (NEW and SCOTT, 1975; SCOTT et al. , 1974) and edematous tissue by its darker shade from normal brain tissue, sequelae from injuries whose existence could only be suspected on account of the clinical symptoms but escaped detection regardless of the method used, can now be visualized directly in the CT. Nevertheless, when CAT was introduced, the main interest was oriented not so much toward the traumas but rather to the cerebral tumors. The need of anesthetizing the injured person for immobilization and the comparatively protracted duration of the examination appeared to interfere with an acute diagnosis. However, experience has shown that these disadvantages of the method are easily compensated for by the considerable gain in information it affords.