What it means
Hemorrhage is the medical word for bleeding. On CT, fresh blood looks brighter than brain tissue, which is why CT is often the first scan after a head injury. MRI is especially good at finding small or older bleeds, because blood changes its appearance over days and weeks. Reports usually say where the blood is and whether it looks acute, meaning new, or chronic, meaning old.
When it matters
New bleeding, especially inside the head, can be serious and is handled urgently, often with a repeat scan to see whether it is growing. Signs of old bleeding, such as tiny spots called microbleeds or staining from a past injury, are a different story. They show something that already happened. When a head CT report says there is no acute hemorrhage, that is reassuring. Next steps depend on the cause, size and location.
Questions to ask your doctor
- Does the blood look fresh, or is it left from an earlier event?
- What is the most likely cause of the bleeding?
- Should my blood pressure or blood-thinning medicines be reviewed?
