by 3H Care
The MRI, magnetic resonance imaging, of the head is a test that uses magnets that are very powerful and the radio waves for the creation of the pictures of the brain and the nerve tissues surrounding the brain.
How is the test performed?
The MRI of the head is done either in the hospital or in the radiology centre.
You are made to lie on a narrow table. This table slides into the scanner that has the shape of a large tunnel.
Certain examinations of the MRI require a special kind of a dye called the contrast material. Just before the test starts, the dye is given through a vein (IV) in your forearm or hand. This dye is given by the radiologist so that the radiologist can see certain specific areas clearly.
While the MRI scan is being done, the person operating the machine keeps a watch on you from another room. The normal timings for the test to last are thirty to sixty minutes tentatively but the test may further last long.
A detailed picture of the brain and the nerve tissues is obtained after the MRI is done.
A brain MRI monitors and diagnosis various diseases and disorders affecting the brain.
These diseases include the following
- Bleeding-this bleeding could be a subarachnoid bleed or the bleeding inside the brain tissue
- Infections of brain like brain abscess
- History of the entire family comprising aneurysms (excessive enlargement of an artery)
- Brain tumors that may be cancerous or non cancerous
- Disorders of the hormones
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Defect from the birth itself
Scanning of the brain through MRI is useful in finding the cause of the following diseases
- Numbness or tingling of the muscles or muscle weakness
- Perception and behavioural changes
- Headaches along with the other signs and symptoms
- Difficulties in speaking
- Problems in seeing properly
- Dementia
To get a clear view of the blood vessels inside the brain, a special type of MRI known as the MRA, magnetic resonance angiography is done.
What is the meaning of the abnormal results?
The abnormal results reveal the following
- Brain comprises of abnormal Blood vessels
- Nerve connecting ear to the brain has tumour
- Brain is bleeding
- Brain’s tissue is swollen
- Brain has tumours
- Brain has got damaged because of an injury
- Fluid has got collected around the brain
- Skull Bones have got infected
- Brain tissue has been lost
- Brain has structural problems
- Transient Ischemic Attack or stroke
What do the White spots show on the Brain’s MRI?
Has your doctor traced white spots on the magnetic resonance image of your brain? Are you extremely bothered about it? Do you want to know how worried you actually should be? Though these spots can’t be ignored but there is nothing called as too much or too little. The best is to let the decision lie with your neurologist.
What are the causes of the white spots on the Brain?
There can be many causes of the white spots. These causes may be because of diseases like depression, stroke, cognitive decline and physical function that has been diminished like walking. These spots do not necessarily signal at your suffering from a major disease yet these do represent an overall deterioration of the brain.
Small white spots can mean many different things. To know the exact meaning of the white spots on your brain, you should refer to a neurologist.
The brain of the older people possessing white spots represents small strokes or vascular disease. Younger people’s brain having white spots would mean Migraine headaches or inflammation.
To know the exact cause of the inflammation, the inflammation would have to be associated with the symptoms of the inflammation. The neurologist will be able to compare the report of your brain’s MRI with the report of the radiologist.
The neurologist would see your symptoms along with the white spots to be able to reveal your correct diagnosis.
Let’s take an example. If you have headaches along with nausea, you might be suffering from Migraine headaches. A complete neurological review can actually rule out your suffering from the disease Multiple Sclerosis.
After your doctor suspects you’re suffering from a vascular disease, your doctor can discuss with you different methods to improve your blood pressure and cholesterol levels responsible for causing your disease.
3H Care is a healthcare company based in Delhi, India. The company aims at making health care services and products such as diagnostic services, health packages, online bed booking in hospitals etc, accessible and affordable to everyone. 3H Care portal offers the facility to compare price to provide transparent pricing to customers.