I’ve seen cross-sectional slices of brains confirmed to have CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) and these slices all seem to differ greatly from a normal looking brain. Currently, why can’t a CTE diagnosis be confirmed with medical imaging, but only through autopsy?

Question

I’ve seen cross-sectional slices of brains confirmed to have CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) and these slices all seem to differ greatly from a normal looking brain. Currently, why can’t a CTE diagnosis be confirmed with medical imaging, but only through autopsy?

In: 285

Answer 1

My Mum died from CTE yesterday. This is the best guess the doctors have. After CT MRI a lumbar puncture and many blood tests. Still all they can say is, ‘this is our best guess’.
I’m not cross with them.

I found this post informative and strangely comforting.