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Demographics:
46 years old, Female
Indication:
Trauma
Findings
- No acute intracranial abnormality
- Left temporoparietal scalp contusion
- Mild mucosal thickening throughout the paranasal sinuses with frothy secretions in the right frontal sinus
Diagnosis
Scalp contusion
Sample Report
No acute intracranial abnormality.
Left temporoparietal scalp contusion without subjacent calvarial fracture.
Mild mucosal thickening throughout the paranasal sinuses with frothy secretions in the right frontal sinus, which can be seen with acute sinusitis.
Discussion
- Scalp contusions are generally not worrisome findings, but are often useful clues to find subtle intracranial trauma. One good approach to reading a head CT is to start on soft tissue window looking for soft tissue contusions/lacerations. Then, when you go through brain and bone windows, focus more closely on the areas where you saw soft tissue trauma. Also look immediately opposite these areas for signs of contrecoup injury
- Also, look closely for retained foreign bodies in the scalp, a common finding in car accidents