What Does My MRI Scan Report Indicate?

Posted on Wed, 19 Apr 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 19 Apr 2017 Answered on

Wed, 10 May 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi my husband had a thunder clap headach 2 weeks ago today. They put it down to bleed in the brain but said it's gone now. However he ended up in another hospital a week later becuse the head aches were still ongoing but not as sever and also has bad nueasea. They gave him MRI but it was clear, also gave him meds for migraine and nueasea and put him on a drop. However it's a week later meds not doing much, headaches a little better. But keeps getting turns in tummy and has vomited at times. Feels very sick and week about an hour after eating. What do u think should be our next move. Hospital told him to come back in a week and take the meds until then

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (41 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
A lumbar puncture should be done.

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for posting your query.

I am Dr Sudhir Kumar, Neurologist, and I would try my best to help you.

I have noted your husband's clinical details. Based on this, a bleed has been ruled out with brain scans. A normal MRI brain also rules out headaches, blood clots, etc. However, we need to exclude two other possibilities: 1. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH); 2. Meningitis

For excluding IIH- an examination by ophthalmologist should be done to look for papilledema, and a lumbar puncture to look for elevated opening CSF (cerebro spinal fluid) pressure.

Meningitis (infection of the coverings of brain) can also be excluded by a lumbar puncture.

I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.

Wishing you good health,

Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sudhir Kumar (2 hours later)

Hi dr XXXXXXX
Thankyou for your answer, It was mention in the first hospital he went to if it continued to get a lumber puncher. My husband also suffers with high blood pressure and very bad anxiety, he takes meds for high blood pressure. It was not high at the time of the first bad head ach but a little high last week. They also said there was no infection as they did bloods. They seem to be very slow to do lumber puncher. I will keep u posted. We are going back to our gp today
Thankyou XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (30 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Please keep me posted.

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back with more information.

As the BP has become normal, that is not the cause of his headaches. Very high BP may sometimes cause headaches.

I agree lumbar puncture would be useful. Please keep me informed of the progress.

Best wishes,

Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar