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What Causes Hyperintensities?
Question: I recently had an MRI. Results show mild to moderate non specific white matter FLAIR hyperintensities. Most likely represent chronic small vessel changes. Chronic small vessel ischemic changes and involutional changes. I'm a 73 yr old female. Could you please put this in layman's terms? Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Age related damage to small areas of brain; see description for details
Detailed Answer:
Hello
My name is Dr Muhammad Ali Rauf & i will look into your problem.
I have gone through your query and would try to help you in the best possible way. FLAIR is a sequence of MRI-Brain in which increased signals (hyperintensities) are represented by areas of disease. Frequently, these changes are seen in patients who have/have had hypertension, stroke, migraine headaches, or other medical conditions.
As the brain ages, we tend to see a change in appearance around the fluid filled spaces (the ventricles). These changes are thought to be the long-term effects of atherosclerosis which cause less blood flow in these brain regions. Less blood flow means that the brain tissue can be irreversibly injured, which is referred to as "ischemic injury."
"Chronic small vessel ischemic changes and involutional changes" means that there was age related damage to small blood vessels of brain resulting in damage to that particular area. Importantly, patients with these changes do not necessarily have any neurologic problems as a result, unless the changes are very severe. These changes accumulate slowly over time and the brain is able to compensate so that no function is lost.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help if not then don't forget to close the discussion and rate it.
Wishing you good health !!
Age related damage to small areas of brain; see description for details
Detailed Answer:
Hello
My name is Dr Muhammad Ali Rauf & i will look into your problem.
I have gone through your query and would try to help you in the best possible way. FLAIR is a sequence of MRI-Brain in which increased signals (hyperintensities) are represented by areas of disease. Frequently, these changes are seen in patients who have/have had hypertension, stroke, migraine headaches, or other medical conditions.
As the brain ages, we tend to see a change in appearance around the fluid filled spaces (the ventricles). These changes are thought to be the long-term effects of atherosclerosis which cause less blood flow in these brain regions. Less blood flow means that the brain tissue can be irreversibly injured, which is referred to as "ischemic injury."
"Chronic small vessel ischemic changes and involutional changes" means that there was age related damage to small blood vessels of brain resulting in damage to that particular area. Importantly, patients with these changes do not necessarily have any neurologic problems as a result, unless the changes are very severe. These changes accumulate slowly over time and the brain is able to compensate so that no function is lost.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help if not then don't forget to close the discussion and rate it.
Wishing you good health !!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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