Computed Tomography Test Computed Tomography (CT Brain) 4

Question 1

A CT brain performed for trauma shows a lens-shaped (biconvex) hyperdense collection between the inner table of the skull and the brain. The most likely source of bleeding is:

Accepted Answer

Middle meningeal artery

Answer

Epidural hematomas are most commonly caused by tearing of the middle meningeal artery, producing the classic biconvex hyperdense collection.

Question 2

On CT perfusion imaging of the brain, 'ischemic penumbra' refers to tissue with:

Accepted Answer

Reduced CBF but preserved CBV, representing salvageable tissue

Answer

The penumbra has reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF) but relatively preserved cerebral blood volume (CBV) due to autoregulatory vasodilation, representing at-risk but salvageable brain.

Question 3

Which of the following brain CT findings is most consistent with diffuse axonal injury (DAI) following high-speed trauma?

Accepted Answer

Multiple small hemorrhages at the gray-white junction and corpus callosum

Answer

DAI results in petechial hemorrhages at gray-white junctions, corpus callosum, and brainstem due to rotational shear forces.

Question 4

On a CT brain, the pineal gland is noted to be shifted 5 mm to the left of midline. This finding most directly suggests:

Accepted Answer

A right-sided mass or edema causing midline shift

Answer

The pineal gland is a reliable midline marker; shift away from the normal position indicates a mass or edema on the contralateral side pushing it.

Question 5

CT angiography (CTA) of the brain is primarily used to evaluate:

Accepted Answer

Intracranial aneurysms and vascular malformations

Answer

CTA uses rapidly acquired post-contrast images to visualize the cerebral vasculature, detecting aneurysms, AVM, and large-vessel occlusions.

Computed Tomography Test Practice Test

Computed Tomography Test Practice Test

Computed Tomography Test Computed Tomography (CT Brain) 4