Adult Head: Routine (Helical Mode) (Protocol # 1.1)

Billing:

1. CT Head without, or with, or without and with

2. Contrast if used

Setup: 

1. Supine, AP and lateral scouts, no gantry angle 

2. Helical mode should be used routinely for adult head CT scans. Only use axial mode 

when you cannot move the patient’s head into proper position (trauma, cervical 

collar, rigid neck).

3. Patient Positioning: Tilt the patients head so that a line connecting the lateral 

canthus of the eye and the EAC is perpendicular to the CT tabletop (see below). Use 

axial mode and angle the gantry if you cannot place the patient’s head within 15 

degrees of the proper setup angle. 

4. Start scans at the bottom of C1 and scan through the top of the head

DFOV: Preferred 20 cm (Range 18-22)

Contrast: 

1. 150 ml of 240 mg/dl non-ionic contrast @ 0.6 ml/sec (4.2 minutes)

2. Begin scanning as soon as contrast injection is finished