Blood Can Be Very Bad: CT Interpretation Course Guide

I. Course Description: Recently published data indicates a concerning rate of head CT misinterpretations by emergency physicians. This session will help emergency physicians improve their ability to interpret such studies. The physics of CT scanning will be reviewed. A review of normal neuroanatomy and CT appearance, followed by a detailed review of neuropathologic conditions frequently encountered in the ED will follow. The diagnoses covered will include traumatic injuries, such as epidural and subdural hematoma, skull fracture, and contusion, and non-traumatic conditions such as stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and hydrocephalus. Methods to avoid errors of interpretation will be discussed. II. Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: 1. Discuss the physics that apply to CT scanning, including Hounsfield numbers, windows, and frequent sources of scan artifact such as volume averaging. 2. Describe the CT appearance of normal brain anatomy. 3. Be able to identify the pathologic conditions found on cranial CT commonly encountered in the Emergency Department. 4. Identify pathologic conditions frequently misinterpreted by emergency physicians, and techniques to help avoid such errors