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CT Anatomy

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CT Anatomy - Scan Essentials & Brainy Views

  • Hounsfield Units (HU): Quantitative scale for radiodensity.
    • Air: -1000 HU (black)
    • Fat: -100 to -50 HU (dark grey)
    • Water: 0 HU
    • CSF: +15 HU (darker than brain parenchyma)
    • Acute Blood: +50 to +75 HU (bright/hyperdense)
    • Bone: +700 (cancellous) to +3000 HU (cortical) (white/hyperdense)
    • Contrast Media: Significantly ↑ HU values.
  • Windowing (Window Width/Window Level): Optimizes image contrast for specific tissues.
    • Brain Window (e.g., W:80 L:40): Differentiates grey/white matter, detects infarcts, hemorrhage.
    • Bone Window (e.g., W:2500 L:500): Visualizes fractures, bony lesions, cortical detail.
    • Lung Window (e.g., W:1500 L:-600): Assesses lung parenchyma, nodules, emphysema.
    • Soft Tissue/Abdomen Window (e.g., W:400 L:50): Views solid organs, fluid collections.
  • Key Axial CT Brain Structures:
    • Ventricles: Lateral, third, fourth (CSF-filled, appear dark).
    • Basal Ganglia: Caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus.
    • Thalamus.
    • Falx cerebri & Tentorium cerebelli (dural folds).
    • Major Lobes: Frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital (general identification).

⭐ Acute hemorrhage (e.g., intracranial bleed) typically appears hyperdense (bright) on non-contrast CT scans, with HU values around +50 to +75 HU due to clotted blood components.

CT Anatomy - Chest Checkpoints

Axial CT chest with key structures labeled

  • Lungs & Pleura:
    • Right Lung: 3 lobes (Superior, Middle, Inferior); 2 fissures (Oblique, Horizontal).
    • Left Lung: 2 lobes (Superior, Inferior); 1 fissure (Oblique). Lingula (LUL) analogous to RML.
    • Bronchopulmonary Segments: Functional units; typically 10 right, 8-10 left.
  • Key Mediastinal Structures (Cranial to Caudal Scan):
    • Vessels: SVC, IVC, Aorta (ascending, arch with branches, descending), Pulmonary Artery (main, R/L branches).
    • Airways: Trachea (C-shaped rings) bifurcates at Carina (T4/T5 level) into Main Bronchi. 📌 R bronchus: Shorter, Wider, More Vertical ("Right, Robust, Reaches").
    • Digestive: Esophagus (posterior to trachea, anterior to vertebrae).
  • Lymph Node Stations (IASLC):
    • Brief ID: Hilar, Paratracheal, Subcarinal, Aortopulmonary window.

⭐ The azygos vein arches over the right main bronchus to drain into the SVC, a key landmark visible on CT imaging near the carina an important checkpoint to identify right sided structures correctly and avoid misinterpretation with pathology like lymphadenopathy or mass.

CT Anatomy - Gut Guide & Organ Odyssey

  • Solid Abdominal Organs:
    • Liver: RUQ; segments by portal/hepatic veins. Key for resection.
    • Gallbladder: Inferior to liver.
    • Spleen: LUQ, posterior to stomach.
    • Pancreas: Retroperitoneal; head in duodenal C-loop, body, tail to spleen. Uncinate process posterior to SMV.
    • Kidneys: Retroperitoneal, bean-shaped. Cortex, medulla, pelvis visible.
    • Adrenal Glands: Superior to kidneys, Y/V-shaped. Often subtle.
  • Major Vessels:
    • Aorta: Anterior to spine; branches: Celiac, SMA, IMA, Renals.
    • IVC: Right of aorta.
    • Portal Vein: Posterior to pancreatic neck; SMV + Splenic Vein.
  • GI Tract Basics:
    • Stomach: LUQ, J-shaped.
    • Small Bowel: Central; jejunum: feathery valvulae.
    • Colon: Peripheral, haustra.
  • Pelvic Organs:
    • Bladder: Anterior.
    • Female: Uterus (pear), Ovaries (almond, lateral).
    • Male: Prostate (below bladder), Seminal Vesicles (posterior). Axial CT abdomen/pelvis with organ/vessel labels

⭐ The left renal vein passes anterior to the aorta and posterior to the SMA (Nutcracker phenomenon risk).

CT Anatomy - Vascular Views & Trauma Traces

  • CT Contrast Phases & Timing:
    • Non-Contrast (NCCT): Baseline; shows acute blood (hyperdense), calcification.
    • Arterial Phase (~20-30s post-IV contrast): Peak arterial opacification (e.g., CTA for aneurysms, dissection); hypervascular tumors.
    • Portovenous Phase (~60-70s): Optimal liver parenchyma & portal vein enhancement; best for hypovascular liver lesions.
    • Delayed Phase (~3-15 min): Evaluates contrast washout (e.g., RCC), fibrosis, collecting system/urothelial lesions.
  • Key Vascular CTA Targets:
    • Circle of Willis: Aneurysms, stenosis, thrombosis.
    • Pulmonary Arteries: Pulmonary embolism (filling defects).
    • Aorta & Major Branches: Dissection, aneurysm, stenosis.
  • Trauma CT (correlates with eFAST findings):
    • Detects free fluid (hemoperitoneum, hemothorax) & free air (pneumoperitoneum, pneumothorax).
  • MSK CT Basics:
    • Defines cortical bone, medullary cavity; details complex fractures, joint integrity.

⭐ On non-contrast CT, acute hemorrhage typically appears hyperdense, measuring 30-60 HU (Hounsfield Units).

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Hounsfield Units (HU): Air (-1000), Water (0), Bone (+1000). Fat is negative, soft tissue positive.
  • Windowing (Width/Level) is crucial for tissue differentiation (e.g., Lung, Bone, Soft tissue windows).
  • IV contrast enhances vessels & pathology; note enhancement patterns.
  • Orientation via axial, sagittal, coronal planes is fundamental.
  • Recognize common artifacts: beam hardening, motion.
  • Acute hemorrhage is hyperdense; infarcts/chronic bleeds are hypodense.
  • Lung window for parenchyma; mediastinal window for soft tissues/vessels.

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Practice Questions: CT Anatomy

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