--- title: "Is Radiology Imaging Needed to Diagnose a TBI?" description: "No. TBIs, especially mild ones, are diagnosed using clinical factors like loss of consciousness, post-traumatic amnesia, and Glasgow Coma Scale." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "LegalService", "@id": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/#organization", "name": "Colorado Brain Injury & Bike Crash Attorneys | Bike Brain Law", "description": "Colorado brain injury and cycling accident attorneys serving Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins and statewide. Specialized TBI representation. Free consultation. Call 303.831.1116.", "url": "https://bikebrainlaw.com", "image": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/og-image.png" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BlogPosting", "@id": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/blog/is-imaging-needed-to-diagnose-tbi#blogposting", "isPartOf": { "@type": "Blog", "@id": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/blog#blog", "name": "Bike Brain Law Blog" }, "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/blog/is-imaging-needed-to-diagnose-tbi" }, "url": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/blog/is-imaging-needed-to-diagnose-tbi", "headline": "Is Radiology Imaging Needed to Diagnose a TBI?", "name": "Is Radiology Imaging Needed to Diagnose a TBI?", "description": "No. TBIs, especially mild ones, are diagnosed using clinical factors like loss of consciousness, post-traumatic amnesia, and Glasgow Coma Scale.", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/blog/is-imaging-needed-to-diagnose-tbi#primaryimage", "url": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/images/content/img_6736.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/images/content/img_6736.jpg", "caption": "Medical imaging equipment in a hospital", "description": "Medical imaging equipment in a hospital", "representativeOfPage": true }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/blog/is-imaging-needed-to-diagnose-tbi#primaryimage", "url": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/images/content/img_6736.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/images/content/img_6736.jpg", "caption": "Medical imaging equipment in a hospital", "description": "Medical imaging equipment in a hospital", "representativeOfPage": true }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/images/content/img_6736.jpg", "datePublished": "2025-12-17T15:00:00.000Z", "dateModified": "2025-12-17T15:00:00.000Z", "inLanguage": "en-US", "articleSection": "Brain Injury", "keywords": "Brain Injury, Colorado, personal injury, TBI, cycling accident", "timeRequired": "PT1M", "articleBody": "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. Understanding these differences about imaging and how imaging plays a role in diagnosing and proving traumatic brain injury is vital to protecting the legal rights of brain injury victims and our clients. At Bike Brain Law, we are committed to working with expert radiologists and neuroradiologists and staying knowledgeable about the latest in brain imaging science to protect our client’s rights.", "commentCount": 0, "additionalProperty": [ { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "readingTime", "value": "1 min read", "unitText": "minutes", "unitCode": "MIN" }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "wordCount", "unitText": "words" }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "characterCount", "value": 1863, "unitText": "characters" }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "headingCount", "value": 0 }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "paragraphCount", "value": 5 }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "listCount", "value": 0 } ], "author": { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/#dan-dangelo", "name": "Attorney Dan D'Angelo", "jobTitle": "Trial Lawyer · Brain Injury Advocate · Avid Cyclist", "description": "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.", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/images/content/20231015_dangelo_dan_square_076.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/images/content/20231015_dangelo_dan_square_076.jpg", "caption": "Attorney Dan D'Angelo" }, "url": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/#about", "worksFor": { "@id": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/#organization" } }, "publisher": { "@id": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/#organization" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://bikebrainlaw.com" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Blog", "item": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/blog" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Is Radiology Imaging Needed to Diagnose a TBI?", "item": "https://bikebrainlaw.com/blog/is-imaging-needed-to-diagnose-tbi" } ] } ] --- [![Bike Brain Law](/assets/logo-white-CuISKEAM.webp)](/)[303.831.1116](tel:3038311116) Practice Areas Practice Areas - [Brain Injury Focused brain injury representation backed by science, trial experience, and real results. ](/practice-areas/traumatic-brain-injury) - [Cycling Accidents An avid cyclist who fights for injured riders across Colorado. ](/practice-areas/cycling-accidents) - [Bicycle Product Liability Holding manufacturers accountable when defective bike parts cause injuries. ](/practice-areas/bicycle-product-liability) Resources - [Insights & Guides ](/blog) - [Case Results ](/results) - Our Process - FAQs Service Areas - [Denver](/service-areas/denver) - [Boulder](/service-areas/boulder) - [Fort Collins](/service-areas/fort-collins) - [Golden](/service-areas/golden) - [Colorado Springs](/service-areas/colorado-springs) - [Aurora](/service-areas/aurora) Featured [ ![Attorney Dan D'Angelo](/assets/dan-dangelo-headshot-DJ4GY3yR.jpg) Meet Attorney Dan D'Angelo Trial lawyer, trusted brain injury advocate, avid cyclist. Learn more ](/) Free consultation · No fee unless we win. Talk to Dan AboutTestimonials[Results](/results)FAQsContact[Insights & Guides](/blog)Free Consultation [](tel:3038311116) [All articles](/blog) [Brain Injury](/blog/brain-injury)· December 17, 2025· 1 min read # 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. ![Dan D'Angelo](/images/content/20231015_dangelo_dan_square_076.jpg) By Attorney Dan D'Angelo Trial Lawyer · Brain Injury Advocate · Avid Cyclist ![Medical imaging equipment in a hospital](/images/content/img_6736.jpg) 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. Related from Bike Brain Law - [Traumatic Brain Injury Claims How we build winning TBI cases against insurers. ](/#practice-areas) - [TBI & Injury FAQs Answers to the questions brain injury victims ask most. ](/#faqs) - [Our Case Process What to expect from consultation to settlement. ](/#process) Free, confidential case review ### Injured in a brain injury or serious accident in Colorado? Talk directly with Attorney Dan D'Angelo for a free consultation with zero obligation to find out where you stand. [Get My Free Consultation](/#contact) [303.831.1116](tel:3038311116) Understanding these differences about imaging and how imaging plays a role in diagnosing and proving traumatic brain injury is vital to protecting the legal rights of brain injury victims and our clients. At Bike Brain Law, we are committed to working with expert radiologists and neuroradiologists and staying knowledgeable about the latest in brain imaging science to protect our client’s rights. ## Have a question about your case? Attorney Dan D'Angelo offers free consultations for brain injury and cycling accident victims throughout Colorado. [Free Consultation](/#contact) [303.831.1116](tel:3038311116) ![Dan D'Angelo](/images/content/20231015_dangelo_dan_square_076.jpg) 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 ## Related articles [ ![Brain imaging scans on a medical lightbox](/images/content/img_7090.jpg) #### Can a Denver Attorney Take My Traumatic Brain Injury Case to Trial? ](/blog/can-a-denver-attorney-take-my-tbi-case-to-trial)[ ![Racks of bicycles at a train station](https://odfyhkstsknriaebnttc.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/blog-images/4aa19bbd-3cb5-4c36-a7ac-e40bf22d19ed.jpeg?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV81NTc3MTNiMy1mM2NiLTRjZmEtYmM3Yi0wYmQ0NmVmZjE3ZjIiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJibG9nLWltYWdlcy80YWExOWJiZC0zY2I1LTRjMzYtYTdhYy1lNDBiZjIyZDE5ZWQuanBlZyIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODUzNDY3NTksImV4cCI6MjEwMDcwNjc1OX0.xJyXEWuIgBqj1qmDqQQdai23W09gRBBqooyEtV3uisw) #### Why loss of consciousness is difficult to spot and why it's so important to your legal case. ](/blog/why-loss-of-consciousness-is-difficult-to-spot-and-how-to-identify-it)[ ![Treelined path with cyclist posing at the end](https://odfyhkstsknriaebnttc.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/blog-images/55e622d3-709b-4210-a141-ac41b5765070.jpg?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV81NTc3MTNiMy1mM2NiLTRjZmEtYmM3Yi0wYmQ0NmVmZjE3ZjIiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJibG9nLWltYWdlcy81NWU2MjJkMy03MDliLTQyMTAtYTE0MS1hYzQxYjU3NjUwNzAuanBnIiwic2NvcGUiOiJkb3dubG9hZCIsImlhdCI6MTc4NTM1MDA4MiwiZXhwIjoyMTAwNzEwMDgyfQ.y_WQrz9NT3BkAoSyOlpdMw9IrxR3LDOQRK0TKozc9dA) #### How long do brain injury symptoms last? ](/blog/how-long-do-brain-injury-symptoms-last) [![Bike Brain Law](/assets/logo-white-CuISKEAM.webp)](/) Colorado's dedicated brain injury and cycling accident attorney. 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