Is Radiology Imaging Needed to Diagnose a TBI?
No. TBIs — especially mild ones — are diagnosed using clinical factors like loss of consciousness, post-traumatic amnesia, and Glasgow Coma Scale.
By Attorney Dan D'Angelo
Trial Lawyer · Brain Injury Advocate · Avid Cyclist
No. Imaging of the brain by computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is not required to diagnose a traumatic brain injury. Instead, a TBI, especially on the milder end, is often diagnosed without imaging based on other factors that include loss of consciousness, alteration of consciousness or mental state, post-traumatic amnesia, or Glasgow Coma Scale score. Imaging can be negative or considered normal for mild, moderate, or even severe TBIs, but would be atypical for a severe TBI to be normal.
A CT scan if performed, is usually done during the acute phase (approximately 1 – 7 days) after a head injury because it's cost effective, quick, and good at detecting life-threatening bleeds and skull fractures. A CT uses x-rays and takes about 10 minutes. A CT may not be performed when a concussion or mild TBI is suspected because the likelihood of a positive finding is usually outweighed by the risk of radiation exposure, cost, and busy ERs need the CT machine for other more seriously injured patients.
MRIs are more sensitive at measuring subtle or finer brain tissue damage such as microbleeds, diffuse axonal injury and metabolic changes that CTs cannot detect. MRIs take longer to perform than a CT and are generally more expensive. MRI does not use radiation, and there are numerous types of MRIs with varying sensitivity levels and advanced techniques. MRIs are generally performed after the acute phase and when symptoms persist.
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About the Author
Attorney Dan D'Angelo
Trial Lawyer · Brain Injury Advocate · Avid Cyclist
Attorney Dan D'Angelo founded D'Angelo Law Office, P.C. in 2009 and Bike Brain Law to focus exclusively on traumatic brain injury and cycling injury cases in Colorado. An avid cyclist himself, Dan combines deep TBI science knowledge with hands-on cycling experience to build winning cases against insurance companies and corporations that put profits over safety.
- Practicing Colorado personal injury attorney since 2009
- Focused practice in TBI and bicycle injury litigation
- Multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts for injury victims
- Avid road and commuter cyclist
