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Patient Positioning :
Topogram
Axial
lateral topogram/
scout
(to include entire head)
Examination
axial brain
axial sinuses
axial facial bones
axial orbits
axial temporal bones axial pituitary fossa
(refer figure 1)
Patient Positioning
- use head holder
- patient positioned supine, head first
- chin angled down slightly
- arms by patient’s side or across chest
- use Velcro straps and immobilisation
pads to help the patient keep his/her
head still
- if the patient is likely to jump off table
use thick Velcro straps and strap the
patient down to the table
- ensure that patient is comfortable
Coronal Positioning
Topogram
Coronal
lateral topogram/
scout
(to include entire head)
Examination
coronal pituitary fossa
coronal sinuses
coronal facial bones
coronal temporal bones
coronal orbits
(refer figures 2 & 3)
Patient Positioning
- use head holder
- patient positioned prone, head first,
with neck extended
- arms by patient’s side, so as not to get
caught up in the moving table
- use Velcro straps and immobilisation
pads to help the patient keep his/her
head still
- if patient is likely to jump off table use
thick Velcro straps and strap the
patient down to the table
- ensure that patient is comfortable
Pitfalls
There are a number of pitfalls to be aware of when scanning the head region. Coronal scans should always be performed as quickly as possible. It is generally very hard for a patient to stay still in this difficult and uncomfortable position.
When performing coronal scans dental fillings may cause severe artefact on the resultant images. Techniques to decrease artefact impact may be to vary the gantry tilt or remove the false teeth, which are causing the problem.
¡It is very hard to remove the beam hardening artefact which degrades image quality in the posterior fossa. Some scanners are better than others at removing it. Using thin slice collimation and special artefact reduction algorithms can help decrease this problem. MRI has a great advantage over CT scanning in this respect.
¡However the greatest pitfall of all is the CT radiographers lack of concentration. It is a wise idea to always double-check all your work so no silly mistakes are made.