Brain Screening Specialist

CitiMed Comprehensive TBI Center

Medical Diagnostic Imaging Center & Radiologist located in Midtown, New York, NY

If you started having severe headaches following a recent head injury, you’re probably experiencing post-traumatic headaches (PTH), or headaches brought on by a traumatic brain injury (TBI). For the estimated 1.7 million people who are affected by TBIs of varying degrees every year, recurrent headaches are the most common complaint. At CitiMed Comprehensive TBI Center in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, board-certified radiologist Dr. Kornelia Teslic provides comprehensive diagnostic brain screening tests for patients who’ve experienced head trauma. To find out more, call the office or book your appointment online today.

212-868-9210

Brain Screening Q & A

What is a brain screening?

Initially, patients with any type of brain trauma are assessed by physicians who provide acute injury treatment and a comprehensive physical and neurological exam. The full extent of any brain trauma is typically revealed through a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.

When should I have a brain screening?

You should consider having a brain screening if any of the following apply:

You sustained a head injury or trauma
You experience the sudden onset of brain-related symptoms
You’re affected by long-standing headache or memory problems

Brain screenings are often used to discover what may be causing persistent migraine headaches or long-term post-traumatic headaches (PTH) following an injury, such as a concussion. Any headache that develops within a week of sustaining a head injury or after regaining consciousness following a head injury qualifies as a PTH.

A PTH isn’t just a consequence of severe brain trauma — it’s just as likely to occur after mild and moderate brain injuries, too. Persistent PTH is often a symptom of post-traumatic syndrome, a complex condition that includes a variety of trauma-related neurological symptoms, including:

Memory loss
Poor concentration
Equilibrium problems
Sleep disturbances
Irritability

When you experience PTH, a brain screening can help diagnose or rule out dangerous complications, such as a brain bleed.

What other brain problems can an MRI reveal?

Dr. Teslic and your physician can use the clear, detailed pictures of your brain and cranial structures from an MRI scan to look for a variety of potential problems, including:

Evidence of a stroke
Brain tumors
Brain infections
Hemorrhage following trauma
Vascular problems, such as an aneurysm
Evidence of neurological disease
Pituitary gland disorders

What can I expect during an MRI?

MRI is a noninvasive technology that relies on a combination of powerful magnetic energy, radio frequency pulses, and a computer to create detailed images of your brain and head structures. To get those clear images, you lie on a table in the MRI unit, and Dr. Teslic reads the exam from a computer remotely.

MRI scans are safe and painless. Most procedures last 30-60 minutes, depending on how many pictures are required. After the procedure, you may be asked to wait as Dr. Teslic checks the images to make sure she has everything needed.

Dr. Teslic can evaluate MRI pictures on the computer screen or print them out. She can also send them electronically to your referring physician.