Imaging in Neuroanatomy

ANHB2217

What is neuroimaging and is it quantitative or qualitative

A way to study the structure (and even function!) of the brain in a non-invasive way.

A quantitative technique

Neuroradiology

Quantitative/qualitative

A medical specialty that focuses on recognizing brain lesions, vascular disease, strokes, tumors

Largely qualitative

Structural vs functional imaging

Structural imaging: used to quantify brain structure • ex. Voxel-based morphometry which uses a computation approach to measure differences in brain tissue

Functional imaging: which is used to study brain function • ex. Functional magnetic resonance imaging

Computed tomography (CT)

Risk, what it is used for, characteristics of CT scan

Aka computed axial tomography (CAT) CT uses x-rays to quickly view brain injuries Ex. Bone fractures, tumors, internal bleeding

Cheap

Risks: exposes a person to radiation, potential reaction to dyes

Very white bone, less distinct image, air is dark black

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Uses what, risks and characterizes of the image it produces

Uses magnetic fields and radio fields to produce high quality 2D or 3D images of the brain

Many types of MRI to look at different structures in more detail

Expensive

Risks: uses powerful magnets and are incredibly loud producing noise up to 120 dB

More distinct, CSF black, grey tissue

Types of MRI

T1-weighted: enhances fatty tissue

T2-weighted: enhances water

FLAIR: nulls the effect of fluid on images, useful for identifying areas of demyelination

Diffusion: maps white matter tractography

Cerebral angiogram

Provides images of the blood vessels around the brain

Risks: contrast allergy, renal insufficiency, and coagulation disorders

Which is MRI and which is CT

Which is MRI and which is CT

Which is MRI and which is CT