On a CT scan, acute intracranial hemorrhage typically appears as which of the following densities?

On a CT scan, acute intracranial hemorrhage typically appears as which of the following densities?

• A. Hyperdense (white)
• B. Hypodense
• C. Iso-dense
• D. Calcified

Answer: (A)

On a non-contrast CT, acute intracranial hemorrhage appears hyperdense, meaning it’s brighter than the surrounding brain tissue. Fresh blood has a higher attenuation because of concentrated proteins and intact red blood cells, so it typically sits around 60–80 Hounsfield units, while normal brain tissue is lower. This brightness makes the acute bleed stand out as white on the scan. If the bleed were hypodense, it would look darker, which isn’t characteristic of acute hematoma; iso-dense areas would blend with brain and be hard to see; calcified areas would appear as very bright spots due to calcium, not the usual early appearance of an acute bleed.

On a non-contrast CT, acute intracranial hemorrhage appears hyperdense, meaning it’s brighter than the surrounding brain tissue. Fresh blood has a higher attenuation because of concentrated proteins and intact red blood cells, so it typically sits around 60–80 Hounsfield units, while normal brain tissue is lower. This brightness makes the acute bleed stand out as white on the scan. If the bleed were hypodense, it would look darker, which isn’t characteristic of acute hematoma; iso-dense areas would blend with brain and be hard to see; calcified areas would appear as very bright spots due to calcium, not the usual early appearance of an acute bleed.