Question: I am a white 48 year old female. Generally healthy but for some depression and anxiety in the past couple years which I have attributed to a very nasty divorce. However, I fell a couple weeks ago, and the hospital did a brain MRI. I just got the report today, and need help understanding this part of the report:

"there is a small focus of T2 hyper intensity in the periventricular white matter of the left frontal lobe, with a few other scattered punctate foci of frontal lobe subcortical white matter signal abnormality bilaterally. No mass or other type of focal brain lesion is detected. Diffusion-weighted imaging shows no evidence for acute ischemis/infarction. There is no intracranial hemorrhage.

Arterial flow voids at the skull base are within normal limits. The visualized paranasal sinuses are clear. Patchy fluid is present with iin the right mastoid air cells, but the left mastoid air cells are essentially clear.

A few small foci of white matter signal abnormality in the frontal obes are nonspecific but most likely represent minimal chronic small vessel ischemic diseaseor the sequelae of prior migraine headaches or remote head trauma.

Nonspecific patchy right mastoid fluid is noted.

I am wondering what the clinical impacts of "frontal lobe" abnormalities could be. Is it possible that the MRI might provide some physical information to explain sporadic difficulty remember names and dates over the past few years, and depression? Now I'm wondering if some of the psychological symptoms (irritability and depression) might be rooted in this physical evidence--or are those more likely a function of high stress?

Just trying to figure out if this MRI is "normal" or if I should have some concerns about brain health, executive functioning, and mental health issues.

I have never been diagnosed as bi-polar or had any indication of serious mental health issues. For 20 years I've been a pretty high functioning attorney. But lately I have had difficulty communicating effectively with people, and have received feedback that suggests that when I have conflicts with people (I don't agree to do whatever they want) they find talking to me to be frustrating.

thanks for your response. I gather from your name and photo (and time difference) that you might be in India? I was in India last fall and was quite enamored with the country, people, and philosophy. Really loved it.
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