CT angiography - head and neck

You will be asked to lie on a narrow table that slides into the center of the CT scanner. While inside the scanner, the machine's x-ray beam rotates around you. A computer creates many separate images of the body area, called slices. These images can be stored, viewed on a monitor, or printed on film.…

Certain exams require a special dye, called contrast, to be delivered into the body before the test starts. Contrast helps certain areas show up better on x-rays. Contrast can be given through a vein (IV) in your hand or forearm. If contrast is used, you may also be asked not to eat or drink anything for 4 to 6 hours…

Some people may have discomfort from lying on the hard table. If you have contrast through a vein, you may have a: Slight burning feeling Metallic taste in your mouth Warm flushing of your body This is normal and usually goes away within a few seconds.

CTA of the head may be done to look for the cause of: Changes in thinking or behavior Difficulty pronouncing words Dizziness or vertigo Double vision or vision loss Fainting Headache, when you have certain other signs or symptoms Hearing loss (in some people) Numbness or tingling, most often on the face or scalp…

Results are considered normal if no problems are seen.

Abnormal results may be due to: Abnormal blood vessels (arteriovenous malformation). Bleeding inside the brain or skull. Brain tumor or other growth (mass). Stroke . Narrowed or blocked carotid arteries . (The carotid arteries provide the main blood supply to your brain. They are located on each side of your neck.)…

Risks of CT scans include: Being exposed to radiation Allergic reaction to the contrast dye Damage to the kidneys from the dye CT scans use more radiation than regular x-rays. Having many x-rays or CT scans over time may increase your risk for cancer. However, the risk from any one scan is small. You and your provider…

A CT scan can reduce or avoid the need for invasive procedures to diagnose problems in the skull. This is one of the safest ways to study the head and neck. Other tests that may be done instead of CT scan of the head include: MRI of the head Positron emission tomography (PET) scan of the head Conventional angiogram –…

Barras CD, Bhattacharya JJ. Current status of imaging of the brain and anatomical features. In: Adam A, Dixon AK, Gillard JH, Schaefer-Prokop CM, eds. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging . 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 53. Wippold FJ, Orlowski HLP. Neuroradiology:…