Attenuation Measurements of Whole Blood and Blood Fractions in Computed Tomography

Abstract

Computed tomography (CT) provides an extraordinarily effective means of diagnosing intracranial hemorrhages. Normal blood has a relatively high X-ray attenuation in the circulation and following extravasation, permitting the discrimination by CT of many pathologically enlarged vascular spaces containing circulating blood and/or blood clot (e.g., arteriovenous malformations and large aneurysms) in addition to recent hemorrhages, from contiguous anatomical structures. To promote further understanding of the factors contributing to the attenuation of blood in normal and abnormal states, the attenuations of various preparations of whole blood and blood fractions were investigated in further detail.