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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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MRI Of The Brain Done. Shows Signal Abnormality, Ischemic Disease, Demyelinating Disease, Seizures. What Does This Indicate?

I had a MRI of the brain with and without contrast. Impression: 1.several scattered foci of signal abnormality within the deep white matter of both cerebral hemispheres, some of which are oriented perpendicular to the caliosal septal interface and are nonspecific in appearance. Condsiderations include chronic microvascular ischemic disease, demyelinating disease , migraine headaches, or history of seizures. What does this all mean? My other MRI s of cervical, lumbar has problems that suggest a near surgeon.
posted on Sat, 23 Jun 2012
Twitter Mon, 25 Jun 2012 Answered on
Twitter Thu, 28 Jun 2012 Last reviewed on
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi,

Welcome to HealthcareMagic forum.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging findings are to be correlated with clinical history in order to give a clear diagnosis. In the absence of any clinical history, these scattered foci of signal abnormalities have no significance.

As such they could represent areas of ischemia or demyelination. Ischemia represents areas that have reduced vascularity resulting in microscopic damages to cells. And since neural damages are irreversible old and previous damages stays permanent as visualized on scan.
Demyelination also causes similar changes, however the pathology is due to damages to the structural covering of the nerves. Demyelination as such when early is reversible.

That being said, what is seen on scan is most often an age related vascularity changes and needs no intervention if you are asymptomatic.

Hope this helps. Do update me if you have any other information / clinical history.

Regards
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MRI Of The Brain Done. Shows Signal Abnormality, Ischemic Disease, Demyelinating Disease, Seizures. What Does This Indicate?

Hi, Welcome to HealthcareMagic forum. Magnetic Resonance Imaging findings are to be correlated with clinical history in order to give a clear diagnosis. In the absence of any clinical history, these scattered foci of signal abnormalities have no significance. As such they could represent areas of ischemia or demyelination. Ischemia represents areas that have reduced vascularity resulting in microscopic damages to cells. And since neural damages are irreversible old and previous damages stays permanent as visualized on scan. Demyelination also causes similar changes, however the pathology is due to damages to the structural covering of the nerves. Demyelination as such when early is reversible. That being said, what is seen on scan is most often an age related vascularity changes and needs no intervention if you are asymptomatic. Hope this helps. Do update me if you have any other information / clinical history. Regards