Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Does This CAT Scan Report Indicate?
Question: what does this mean. My husband had a cat scan:
Mild CSF prominence anterior
to the frontal lobes is present.
Mild CSF prominence anterior
to the frontal lobes is present.
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
That term means that the frontal lobes of the brain are somewhat smaller in size, shrinked so to say. As a result there is more space left around them which is filled by the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
The significance of that result depends on the age of the patient and the symptoms. Our brains start to lose cells after our thirties, happens to all of us is part of aging. So as the years go on there is shrinking, atrophy, of the brain. For that re,ason some shrinking is normal if the age of the patient is indeed 78 years old.
It may be of significance only if he exhibits manifestations of dementia with changes in behavior. In that particular case this frontally predominating shrinking may be a manifestation of some rare types of dementia affecting primarily the frontal lobe. Otherwise if he has no such manifestations I wouldn't see any cause for worry in such a report in a 78 years old.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
That term means that the frontal lobes of the brain are somewhat smaller in size, shrinked so to say. As a result there is more space left around them which is filled by the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
The significance of that result depends on the age of the patient and the symptoms. Our brains start to lose cells after our thirties, happens to all of us is part of aging. So as the years go on there is shrinking, atrophy, of the brain. For that re,ason some shrinking is normal if the age of the patient is indeed 78 years old.
It may be of significance only if he exhibits manifestations of dementia with changes in behavior. In that particular case this frontally predominating shrinking may be a manifestation of some rare types of dementia affecting primarily the frontal lobe. Otherwise if he has no such manifestations I wouldn't see any cause for worry in such a report in a 78 years old.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
full report:
we are checking to see if he has alzhimers. He has family history and a lot of memory loss.
Study Result
Impression
1. No significant intracranial findings for age.
Narrative
CT HEAD WO CONTRAST
HISTORY:
evaluate memory concerns.
COMPARISON:
None available.
TECHNIQUE:
CT of the head without IV contrast administration was
performed. Low dose scan using iterative reconstruction
technique.
FINDINGS:
There is no significant dilatation of the ventricular system
is mild degree of volume loss. Mild diffuse prominence of
the intracranial sulci are identified with volume loss. This
is likely age-appropriate. No acute intracranial hemorrhage
or abnormal extra-axial fluid collections are identified.
Streak artifact at the posterior fossa is present affecting
the lower cerebellum and pons. Mild CSF prominence anterior
to the frontal lobes is present.
Visualized paranasal sinuses are clear. No calvarial
fracture identified.
If clinically indicated, further evaluation with brain MR
may be helpful.
Component Results
There is no component information for this result.
He has memory loss. He repeats himself over and over. The test was done to see if he has Alzhimers. He has it in his family history.
Study Result
Impression
1. No significant intracranial findings for age.
Narrative
CT HEAD WO CONTRAST
HISTORY:
evaluate memory concerns.
COMPARISON:
None available.
TECHNIQUE:
CT of the head without IV contrast administration was
performed. Low dose scan using iterative reconstruction
technique.
FINDINGS:
There is no significant dilatation of the ventricular system
is mild degree of volume loss. Mild diffuse prominence of
the intracranial sulci are identified with volume loss. This
is likely age-appropriate. No acute intracranial hemorrhage
or abnormal extra-axial fluid collections are identified.
Streak artifact at the posterior fossa is present affecting
the lower cerebellum and pons. Mild CSF prominence anterior
to the frontal lobes is present.
Visualized paranasal sinuses are clear. No calvarial
fracture identified.
If clinically indicated, further evaluation with brain MR
may be helpful.
Component Results
There is no component information for this result.
we are checking to see if he has alzhimers. He has family history and a lot of memory loss.
Study Result
Impression
1. No significant intracranial findings for age.
Narrative
CT HEAD WO CONTRAST
HISTORY:
evaluate memory concerns.
COMPARISON:
None available.
TECHNIQUE:
CT of the head without IV contrast administration was
performed. Low dose scan using iterative reconstruction
technique.
FINDINGS:
There is no significant dilatation of the ventricular system
is mild degree of volume loss. Mild diffuse prominence of
the intracranial sulci are identified with volume loss. This
is likely age-appropriate. No acute intracranial hemorrhage
or abnormal extra-axial fluid collections are identified.
Streak artifact at the posterior fossa is present affecting
the lower cerebellum and pons. Mild CSF prominence anterior
to the frontal lobes is present.
Visualized paranasal sinuses are clear. No calvarial
fracture identified.
If clinically indicated, further evaluation with brain MR
may be helpful.
Component Results
There is no component information for this result.
He has memory loss. He repeats himself over and over. The test was done to see if he has Alzhimers. He has it in his family history.
Study Result
Impression
1. No significant intracranial findings for age.
Narrative
CT HEAD WO CONTRAST
HISTORY:
evaluate memory concerns.
COMPARISON:
None available.
TECHNIQUE:
CT of the head without IV contrast administration was
performed. Low dose scan using iterative reconstruction
technique.
FINDINGS:
There is no significant dilatation of the ventricular system
is mild degree of volume loss. Mild diffuse prominence of
the intracranial sulci are identified with volume loss. This
is likely age-appropriate. No acute intracranial hemorrhage
or abnormal extra-axial fluid collections are identified.
Streak artifact at the posterior fossa is present affecting
the lower cerebellum and pons. Mild CSF prominence anterior
to the frontal lobes is present.
Visualized paranasal sinuses are clear. No calvarial
fracture identified.
If clinically indicated, further evaluation with brain MR
may be helpful.
Component Results
There is no component information for this result.
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the full report and the other info.
That report is not typical of Alzheimer. Usually in Alzheimer's the atrophy is more marked in the temporal lobes.
However that doesn't exclude the diagnosis. Alzheimer's is a diagnosis which is not made through imaging. Imaging is done mainly to exclude other causes for those memory issues such as stroke, tumor etc. Otherwise if the imaging corresponds to Alzheimer's it may reinforce the diagnosis, but not exclude it. Also usually the MRI is the study of choice, the CT scan is usually done to exclude urgent stuff.
To diagnose dementia (Alzheimer's is the most common type, but there are other rarer form of dementia) first of all neuropsychological tests are needed, sort of questionnaires testing different areas of cognition, in order to see which are the most affected. Only if the neuropsychological tests are affected is the diagnosis of dementia made, not through imaging.
If dementia is diagnosed on neuropsychological tests then to determine the type apart from CT or MRI, other imaging tests which may be considered if unclear are SPECT or PET scan which visualize brain areas with affected metabolism (not the structure like CT/MRI but the functioning), but they are not done everywhere, only in highly specialized centers.
Some blood tests such as vitamin B12 level, thyroid function are also routinely done as other possible causes of dementia.
Also a lumbar puncture to measure the level of tau and amyloid proteins may be done, but again only in highly specialized centers more for research purposes, not routinely.
But again if neuropsychological tests are normal, they are the main criterion for dementia, not tests, that report in the absence of other abnormalities has not much of a significance.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the full report and the other info.
That report is not typical of Alzheimer. Usually in Alzheimer's the atrophy is more marked in the temporal lobes.
However that doesn't exclude the diagnosis. Alzheimer's is a diagnosis which is not made through imaging. Imaging is done mainly to exclude other causes for those memory issues such as stroke, tumor etc. Otherwise if the imaging corresponds to Alzheimer's it may reinforce the diagnosis, but not exclude it. Also usually the MRI is the study of choice, the CT scan is usually done to exclude urgent stuff.
To diagnose dementia (Alzheimer's is the most common type, but there are other rarer form of dementia) first of all neuropsychological tests are needed, sort of questionnaires testing different areas of cognition, in order to see which are the most affected. Only if the neuropsychological tests are affected is the diagnosis of dementia made, not through imaging.
If dementia is diagnosed on neuropsychological tests then to determine the type apart from CT or MRI, other imaging tests which may be considered if unclear are SPECT or PET scan which visualize brain areas with affected metabolism (not the structure like CT/MRI but the functioning), but they are not done everywhere, only in highly specialized centers.
Some blood tests such as vitamin B12 level, thyroid function are also routinely done as other possible causes of dementia.
Also a lumbar puncture to measure the level of tau and amyloid proteins may be done, but again only in highly specialized centers more for research purposes, not routinely.
But again if neuropsychological tests are normal, they are the main criterion for dementia, not tests, that report in the absence of other abnormalities has not much of a significance.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
