Traumatic brain injury may require an MRI.
CT is preferred for traumatic brain injury because CT examination time is short and will not be delayed due to long examination time, and it is clearer than MRI for acute or super-acute hemorrhage, and the fracture situation is more accurate; CT examination can also do three-dimensional reconstruction of the skull and brain, which can be more intuitive and more comprehensive observation of intracranial fracture situation.
However, when the traumatic brain injury is in the subacute stage, CT is not as sensitive as magnetic resonance, and magnetic resonance should be chosen at this time. Magnetic resonance examination is more obvious for soft tissue lesions, and magnetic resonance is able to clearly determine subarachnoid hemorrhage, epidural hematoma, arteriovenous malformation and other diseases in the brain.
CT and MRI have their own advantages and disadvantages, and it is recommended that patients choose the appropriate examination method under the guidance of their doctors.