Can a mri/ct scan detect all brain injurys?
These scanners help detect early signs of brain damage, which could later develop into much more severe symptoms or even death. Without them, you may be able to detect extreme brain injury, if, (for example) you were unable to feel anything down your left side (possible petit-mal/grand-mal stroke). Without the use of a MRI/CT scanner, you're looking at post-trauma care in situations where it may already be too late to save the patient. Of course, prior to the invention of these technologies, a doctor would have to rely on their own skills in determining the conditions of the patient. Obviously, this was somewhat less reliable in determining the exact problem (and an effective course of treatment).
Can MRI scans detect brain function loss? (Other related questions)?
Hi, I'm currently doing some research about MRI scans for a comic script that I've been hired to write. My main question is regarding the detection of brain function loss on MRI scans, but I have one or two other related questions as well. I would very much appreciate your help. The basic plot in my script revolves around a freakish neurological illness that has infected a class of school children. Basically, the illness is blocking the transmission of electrical impulses in the brain by disrupting the electrochemical processes in the neurons, thus causing a gradual systematic loss of brain function and eventual coma. Naturally, the doctors perform MRI scans on the children to check to what is going on in the brain. Main question: 1) Obviously, MRI brain scans can't detect neurons or electrical activity, but can they visually detect what parts of the brain have shut down/stopped functioning? If so, what colour/shading would the affected parts appear as compared to the unaffected parts in a MRI image? I'm guessing the affected parts would appear in a darker shade? Or am I wrong? 2) Additionally, If a viral infection was to be found, what colour/shading would that appear as in the MRI brain images? Related questions: 3) Also, could anyone roughly explain to me what colour/shading do the bones, tissues, fluid, blood in general appear as in a MRI brain image? I just want to be sure about which aspects appear lighter or darker and in which colour. 4) Finally, just to clarify, if the brain stopped functioning for whatever reason, would the blood flow to the brain stop? If so, what about the parts of the brain that were still functioning as normal? Please be specific with your answers, please. It might also be best to answer the questions together as they're all interlinked with each other. Thank you for taking the time to read and answer my questions. Signing out.
What does "mild cortical atrophy" mean in MRI report of the brain?
The easiest way to answer this question would be to hear the rest of the sentence in which the phrase “mild cortical atrophy” was used, or to see the images myself…In itself, this MRI/CT finding is very non-specific and could indicate any range of pathologic or essentially normal (expected for age change) conditions.The most common way I see the phrase used (and in which I use the phrase myself in daily practice) is when referring to DIFFUSE cortical volume loss (“atrophy”) related to the normal aging process, which is essentially “normal” as it is an expected change as patients enter their 60’s and later. Basically, the cortex is a layer of brain matter that covers the major cerebral lobes (frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes) and white matter, and involves many functions depending on the location but include memory formation as well as the memory itself (kind of like data storage on a hardrive to way oversimplify it). Everyone loses their cortex as they age, the amount of loss and at what age it starts is a little different for everyone, but in general, normal “age-related” cortical volume loss/atrophy should affect the cortex in all lobes equally.That said, things quickly become tricky when you start to consider non-difuse (“focal” regions of) cortical atrophy. These are specific regions of cortex that have shrunken more than the cortex in the rest of the brain. Sometimes this means that although the overall cortex is smaller when compared to the scan of an adult in their 30–40s, there is one (or a few) regions of the brain that are MUUCHHH smaller (“out of proportion”) than the rest. The potential causes of this are endless but the two categories that come to mind are neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimers, or encephalomalacia (usually from a prior stroke but also surgery or congenital).
What is happening, I can't really think properly, please help me
Ok, from October 2007 to April 2007 I felt as though it had become really hard to remember something, like i would try to remember something and then my brain would slowly go around to search for this memory, when it found it, I would be like "ahh now i remember" Well since May 2007 I have been through a lot of stress and general problems with family and friends, and i foolishly ended it with my girlfriend. Since May it started becoming harder and longer to remember something. Last week it got to the point where my mind is a jumbled mess., thoughts here, and thoughts there. Today I realize that its extremely difficult to remember something. Its like my brain is triggered to go and find a particular memory, but its like it comes to a wall, then i just try thinking harder and harder, and then it hits me that unfortunately i can't remember. I can never concentrate long enough to find the memory. I seriously sat there today for an hour trying to remember who i told im going to hang out with today, i got really frustrated and had to give up. I never figured it out till the person called me...... Now its not very long ago memories, i can't remember stuff like where i went with my friends on Monday, or what i at for lunch TODAY, or who I am supposed to meet on Tuesday. I also doubt its ADHD because i have NEVER shown any signs or symptoms of it except for the memory loss nowadays Its very hard and i don't know what to do. What could be wrong? I dont do drugs or smoke or anything. I am 22 and healthy for my age......
Would someone be able to tell if they had a brain tumor?
Not necessarily. Neurological symptoms often relate more to the location in the brain at which the problem lies than to the nature of the problem. Time course and presence or absence of other symptoms such as fever, headache, and vision changes may offer clues. But most of the world now has access to tests such as CT or MRI that can answer this question. If you're concerned enough to ask this question you should see a physician in person.
What is causing my headaches and what kind of headaches are they?
Hey so I'm 16 years old too and I have a headache every day as well. I just recently went to a neurologist BC I've had terrible migraines since I was 10/11, and he ordered an mri and did a bunch of motor tests. All in all, he says I have chronic migraine, and made me start taking vitamin b12, and coenzyme q10. He also gave me a list of food triggers (huge list) to see if I can find anything. He also is making me keep a "headache diary" to see if there are any patterns. After he gets the mri results, he will also give me another medicine to take everyday and stronger pain relief medication. So in my opinion I would schedule an appointment with a different doctor, keep this "diary" until ur next appointment to see if you can see a pattern to tell the doctor, and try taking those vitamins. If it doesn't help I'm really sorry, and good luck, I know it sucks :/
Is subsultus normal during an MRI?
No. In fact aside from the sorts of issues one might expect with metal objects and implanted electronics (pacemakers, neurological stimulators) in the presence of a strong magnetic field there typically aren't any side effects associated with undergoing MRI studies. Commonly reported side effects such as transient dizziness, fatigue and body aches are most commonly caused by having to lie on a hard surface for an extended period of time coupled with the emotional stress of the procedure -- conditions that I suppose could induce subsultus in some individuals but it's certainly not a commonly reported side effect.
What are the symptoms & precautions of a brain tumor?
The brain is one of the last frontier in medicine. It’s one of the least understood. Same goes for brain tumors. In my case, it was headaches from the moment I woke up and throughout the day. Sometimes the pain would wake me up in the middle of the night. Doctors told me it was migraine headaches. I never associated the pain with the fact that where ever I when there was a foul order, since the city was having trouble with it’s water plant system. I just figure the smell was from that and never putting two and two together. So, I never mentioned it to the doctors. One day the smell was overwhelming and I was tired and angry of being told, “It’s all in your head!” because no one else smell the foul order. This time I told the doctor about it and he just started at me! He ordered MRI’s and all kinds of testes. Turns out my symptoms were headaches and what he called Phantom Smells. I found out it was a sure sign of a brain tumor. Mine has turned out to be inoperable. As for seizures, I have to kind The simple particular seizure and the complex particular seizures. From time to time I do have some strange hallucinations and my world spins out of control. The fun hallucination (yes, part of my brain knows it’s not real) was when I was doing dishes and turned to clean the table. Only to find myself face to face with a white horse standing in my kitchen. Now, I knew it wasn’t real, but It was solid enough and another part of my brain, the one that was seeing it, IT WAS VERY REAL. Brain tumors can be either fun or terrifying it all depends on how you chose to deal with it.I hope you or a love one doesn’t have one but if you do, don’t give up hope. I was told I had 6 month before I would be paraplegic and at the most 2 years to live, that was 20 years ago. Am still here obviously and am not paraplegic. Now the head of the neurological department at the Mayo Hospital in Rochester want my brain. (Why are you alive?)Best of Luck!
What can I do if I’m suffering from severe cognitive impairment as a result of head trauma but can’t prove it or get proper help since all the MRI scans are coming back normal?
It is extraordinarily frustrating when medicine has trouble backing up your experience of your body. I had a collapse last year leading to cognitive impairment light enough to escape most testing but severe enough to make normal life difficult, and I am lucky in that not only have friends been taking me seriously, but several shared their own journeys (a friend with MS who waited ten years for her diagnosis, a friend with Lupis who waited 17 years for her positive blood test…and this is really not that unusual). So, know that you are, sadly, in good company.Knowing that reading and cognition are a little difficult for you right now, I want to give you the simplest, clearest list I can:Rest a ridiculous amount. Even though you want to work, feel that you should work, and may be bored out of your mind.Identify three levels of activity for yourself: green (restful), yellow (a little hard), red (difficult to do). Plan your day, making sure you have plenty of green activity, and a moderate to minimal amount of red.Track your symptoms. I rate my various symptoms on a level of 1–5 and created a google form with a hotkey on my smart phone. But you can use just paper and pencil. Try to figure out what makes you feel better and what makes you feel worse. This is data you can use.Find resources. There are local brain trauma associations in many places in the country. In addition, I found Brainlashed by Gail L. Denton and especially The Concussion Repair Manuel by Dan Engle really helpful. Read in small doses, taking lots of breaks, and try just one or two strategies at a time. (I can’t emphasize Engle’s book enough as being extremely helpful).Go to a counselor. Mental illness is the “here there be dragons” on medicine. When they can’t figure out the problem quickly, they assume it must have to do with feelings. Go to a counselor so that you can say “hey my counselor doesn’t think I have a mood disorder”, or so you can treat any underlying mood disorder your head trauma might have given you. While my counselor doesn’t think I have a mood disorder, she recognizes that my illness is upsetting and so gives me adjustment therapy base don that.Find your support system. I don’t know if you have anyone helping take care of you, but you need it. Find who you can reach out to.Don’t blame yourself. This is not your fault.