SAH-CT BRAIN

SUMMARY

A good quality scan will detect SAH > 95% if the case is scanned within 48hrs of the ictus. CT can also assess the following:

1. Hydrocephalus: occurs acutely in 21% of ruptures
2. Hematoma: intraparenchymal or subdural which may require urgent evacuation
3. Amount of blood in the subarachnoid space: this is an important prognosticator for vasospasm
4. In multiple aneurysms, CT can identify which one bled
5. Non-contrast CT can predict aneurysm location in 70% of cases

Reference(s)

Greenberg, M., 1997. Handbook Of Neurosurgery. 7th ed. Lakeland, Fla.: Greenberg Graphics
Quiñones-HinojosaA. (2012). Schmidek and Sweet: Operative Neurosurgical Techniques: Indications, Methods and Results. 6th ed. Saunders.
Rhoton, A.L. and Congress Of Neurological Surgeons (2003). Rhoton cranial anatomy and surgical approaches. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.