Acute Stroke
Stroke is the highest-acuity neuroradiology call. RadCall covers the full acute stroke workflow: non-contrast CT for hemorrhage exclusion, CT perfusion interpretation (core vs penumbra, mismatch ratio), CTA for large vessel occlusion, and ASPECTS scoring. Includes tPA eligibility criteria and thrombectomy indications by time window.
- ASPECTS scoring — territory map and cutoffs
- CT perfusion — CBF, CBV, MTT, Tmax maps
- Core vs penumbra — mismatch ratio and volume
- Large vessel occlusion — CTA findings and reporting
- Hemorrhagic transformation — types and grading
- tPA exclusion criteria — imaging contraindications
- Wake-up stroke — MRI DWI/FLAIR mismatch
- Posterior circulation stroke — basilar artery occlusion
Intracranial Hemorrhage
Hemorrhage subtype determines management — epidural, subdural, subarachnoid, intraparenchymal, and intraventricular each have distinct CT appearances, causes, and escalation pathways. RadCall includes Hunt-Hess and Fisher grading for SAH, spot sign for hematoma expansion, and subdural vs epidural pattern recognition.
- Epidural hematoma — biconvex, arterial, temporal
- Subdural hematoma — acute vs chronic, crescent shape
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage — cistern distribution, Fisher
- Hunt-Hess grading — SAH severity scale
- Intraparenchymal hemorrhage — hypertensive locations
- Spot sign — CTA predictor of hematoma expansion
- Intraventricular hemorrhage — Graeb score
- Cerebral venous thrombosis — CT and MRV findings
Traumatic Brain Injury
CT head is the primary tool for TBI triage. RadCall covers diffuse axonal injury patterns on MRI, contusion vs hemorrhagic contusion, skull base fractures, and the Marshall CT classification. Pneumocephalus, herniation patterns, and midline shift measurement are included.
- Marshall CT classification — TBI severity
- Contusion patterns — coup, contrecoup, temporal poles
- Diffuse axonal injury — MRI susceptibility sequences
- Skull base fracture — tegmen, petrous, sphenoid
- Midline shift — measurement and herniation thresholds
- Pneumocephalus — tension vs simple
- Herniation — uncal, subfalcine, transtentorial
- Pediatric TBI — non-accidental trauma patterns
Spine Emergencies
Spine calls require rapid identification of cord compression, cauda equina syndrome, epidural abscess, and traumatic instability. RadCall covers MRI sequences for cord signal change, Denis classification for thoracolumbar fractures, and NEXUS/Canadian C-Spine rules for imaging decisions.
- Cord compression — MRI sequences, T2 signal change
- Cauda equina syndrome — anatomy and MRI findings
- Epidural abscess — enhancing collection, cord signal
- NEXUS and Canadian C-Spine — imaging decision rules
- Denis classification — thoracolumbar fracture stability
- Chance fracture — flexion-distraction, seat belt
- Atlantoaxial instability — ADI measurement
- Disc herniation — foraminal vs central, level reporting
Other Neuro On-Call Topics
- Hydrocephalus — obstructive vs communicating
- Cerebral edema — cytotoxic vs vasogenic
- Brain abscess — ring enhancement differential
- Hypertensive encephalopathy — PRES on MRI
- Aneurysm — CTA reporting, ruptured vs unruptured
- AVM — Spetzler-Martin grading
- Meningitis — CT before LP, leptomeningeal enhancement
- Shunt malfunction — VP shunt series, slit ventricles