hounsfield units
common wl / ww (radiopaedia)
contrast media / IV
scan delay
protocols
100

this is the HU for water

0

100

1500, -600

lung window

100

this type of contrast used in CT is preferred due to decreased risk of reactions 

LOCM / water soluble iodinated contrast

100

this is the scan delay for an enhanced head in order to get past the BBB 

5 minutes

100

an unenhanced abdomen is a common order for this pathology 

renal colic 

200

this is the HU for cortical bone 

+1000

200

150, +30

liver window

200

this value will need to be decreased when the patient's only accessible vein is in the hand

flow rate and thus scan delay

200

a PE is scanned with this type of "delay"

bolus tracking

200

a patient suddenly presents with trouble speaking and dizziness, this is the first scan that will need to be done

unenhanced head to determine if tpa can / should be used

300

this is the hounsfield unit for cerebrospinal fluid

0-15

300

350, +50

mediastinum window, also accepting soft tissue

300

this is the amount of oral contrast needed to drink for a barium enhanced abdomen 

450-900 ml 

300

this is the scan delay for the abdomen

65 seconds

300

this is a low-contrast chest ct to evaluate small spots in the lung

nodule

400

chronic / old blood in the brain will show up as this colour on CT

dark grey / black

400

80, +40

brain window

400

hypertension, dyspnea, mild lryngeal edema are all examples of this type of contrast media reaction 

moderate

400

the nephrogenic phase occurs after this many seconds

100 

400

this type of scan is done to differentiate ischemic tissue from salvageable tissue in the brain

perfusion

500

a structure that is +600 HU will show up as this colour on a CT with a WL of +250 and WW of 500

white

500

1800, +400

spine bone window

500

these are normal values for BUN, creatinine, and eGFR 

BUN: 7-20

creatinine: male 0.8-1.5, female 0.6-1.3

eGFR: 60-90

500

this is the first phase of contrast enhancement that occurs after 15-20 seconds after injection 

early arterial phase

500

this study often includes a 10 minute delay after injecting contrast 

urography