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Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Radiation injury differential diagnosis

Introduction

Differentiating Radiation injury From Other Diseases

Differentiating Radiation injury From Other Diseases

Radiation injury should be differentiated from other diseases causing severe headache for example: [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

Disease Symptoms Gold Standard CT/MRI Other Investigation Findings
Headache Other features
Onset Characteristics
Pituitary apoplexy Sudden Severe headache MRI
  • CT scan without contrast is the initial test of choice. Pituitary hemorrhage on CT presents as a hyper-dense lesion.
  • MRI is done in cases of inconclusive CT. An MRI is more sensitive in identifying intrasellar mass and soft tissue changes.
 Blood tests may be done to check:
  • PT/INR and aPTT
  • Pituitary hormonal assay
Subarachnoid hemorrhage Sudden Digital subtraction angiography
Meningitis Sudden Headache is associated with: Lumbar puncture for CSF
  • CT scan of the head may be performed before LP to determine the risk of herniation.
  • Diagnosis is based on clinical presentation in combination with CSF analysis.
  • CSF analysis is the investigation of choice.
  • For more information on CSF analysis in meningitis please click here.
Intracranial mass Gradual Morning headache MRI
  • CT or MRI is the initial test to detect intracranial lesions (ring enhancing lesions).
  • These imaging tests determine the location of intracranial mass lesion(s) and help in guiding therapy.
  • Biopsy of the lesion may be done to identify the nature of the lesion such as:
  • X-ray of the skull is a non specific test, but useful if any of the lesions are calcified
Cerebral hemorrhage Sudden Rapidly progressing headache
  • Focal neurological deficits
 CT without contrast

(differentiate ischemic stroke from hemorrhagic stroke)

  • CT is very sensitive for identifying acute hemorrhage which appears as a hyperattenuating clot.
  • Gradient echo and T2 susceptibility-weighted MRI are as sensitive as CT for detection of acute hemorrhage and are more sensitive for identification of prior hemorrhage.
Intracranial venous thrombosis Gradual Digital subtraction angiography
  • The classic finding of sinus thrombosis on unenhanced CT images is a hyperattenuating thrombus in the occluded sinus.
  • Cerebral angiography may demonstrate smaller clots, and obstructed veins may give the “corkscrew appearance.”
Migraine Sudden
  • Severe to moderate headache
  • One-sided
  • Pulsating
  • Lasts between several hours to three days.
 —
  • CT and MRI may be needed to rule out other suspected possible causes of headache.
  • Migraine is a clinical diagnosis that does not require any laboratory tests.
  • Laboratory tests may be ordered to rule out any suspected coexistent metabolic problems.
Head injury Sudden
  • Dull
  • Throbbing
  • One sided or all around
 CT scan without contrast
  • CT scan is the first test performed and identifies cerebral hemorrhage (appears as a hyperattenuating clot) following head injury.
  • MRI is more sensitive, takes more time, and is done in patients with symptoms unexplained by CT scan.
Lymphocytic hypophysitis Sudden
  • Generalized
  • Retro-orbital or Bitemporal
  • Most often seen in late pregnancy or the postpartum period
 Pituitary biopsy CT & MRI typically reveal features of a pituitary mass. The most accurate test is a pituitary biopsy which will show lymphocytic infiltration.
References

References

  1. ↑ Endrit Ziu & Fassil Mesfin (2017). “Subarachnoid Hemorrhage”. PMID 28722987.
  2. ↑ Benedikt Schwermer, Daniel Eschle & Constantine Bloch-Infanger (2017). “[Fever and Headache after a Vacation in Thailand]”. Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift (1946). 142 (14): 1063–1066. doi:10.1055/s-0043-106282. PMID 28728201.
  3. ↑ Otto Rapalino & Mark E. Mullins (2017). “Intracranial Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases Presenting as Neurosurgical Pathologies”. Neurosurgery. doi:10.1093/neuros/nyx201. PMID 28575459.
  4. ↑ I. B. Komarova, V. P. Zykov, L. V. Ushakova, E. K. Nazarova, E. B. Novikova, O. V. Shuleshko & M. G. Samigulina (2017). “[Clinical and neuroimaging signs of cardioembolic stroke laboratory in children]”. Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova. 117 (3. Vyp. 2): 11–19. doi:10.17116/jnevro20171173211-19. PMID 28665364.
  5. ↑ Sanjay Konakondla, Clemens M. Schirmer, Fengwu Li, Xiaogun Geng & Yuchuan Ding (2017). “New Developments in the Pathophysiology, Workup, and Diagnosis of Dural Venous Sinus Thrombosis (DVST) and a Systematic Review of Endovascular Treatments”. Aging and disease. 8 (2): 136–148. doi:10.14336/AD.2016.0915. PMID 28400981.
  6. ↑ Priyanka Yadav, Alec L. Bradley & Jonathan H. Smith (2017). “Recognition of Chronic Migraine by Medicine Trainees: A Cross-Sectional Survey”. Headache. doi:10.1111/head.13133. PMID 28653369.
  7. ↑ S. Wulffeld, L. S. Rasmussen, B. Hojlund Bech & J. Steinmetz (2017). “The effect of CT scanners in the trauma room – an observational study”. Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica. 61 (7): 832–840. doi:10.1111/aas.12927. PMID 28635146.
  8. ↑ Johnston PC, Chew LS, Hamrahian AH, Kennedy L (2015). “Lymphocytic infundibulo-neurohypophysitis: a clinical overview”. Endocrine. 50 (3): 531–6. doi:10.1007/s12020-015-0707-6. PMID 26219407.
  9. ↑ Makale MT, McDonald CR, Hattangadi-Gluth JA, Kesari S (2017). “Mechanisms of radiotherapy-associated cognitive disability in patients with brain tumours”. Nat Rev Neurol. 13 (1): 52–64. doi:10.1038/nrneurol.2016.185. PMID 27982041.
  10. ↑ Sato N, Sze G, Endo K (1998). “Hypophysitis: endocrinologic and dynamic MR findings”. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 19 (3): 439–44. PMID 9541295.