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What Does This CT Scan Report Indicate?
Question: I'm a 67-year-old male, Had CT scan done w/o contrast. The brain parenchyma demonstrates mild cerebral volume loss with minimal microangiopathic change. There is a tiny calcification in the right basal ganglia. there is no CT evidence of acute territorial infarct, hemorrhage, mass or extra-axial fluid collection. the ventricles are midline and age-appropriate. The calvarium is intact. The paranasal sinuses and mastoid air cells are clear. the visualized portions of the globes and orbits are unremarkable. Vascular calcifications are seen in the intracranial segments internal carotid arteries.
Can you decifer the risks associated with this CT scan result?
Can you decifer the risks associated with this CT scan result?
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
I wouldn't be that worried by that CT. Let's analyze it. The mild cerebral volume loss is a common finding after the sixties. All people start to lose some brain cells after our thirties, it's part of aging. As years progress that loss accumulates and becomes visible. So some mild loss at your age is to be expected.
The minimal microangiopathic changes are common with age as well, they are not desirable but they are common. Partly they are genetic due to changes in the walls of the blood vessels. They may also be influenced by issues such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking etc. They do not confer any immediate danger, not when mild. Only if more advanced can they become a risk for deterioration of cognitive functions or complications like ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. But again, the report says minimal and at 67 is expected.
The tiny calcification in the basal ganglia represents no risk at all. Such calcifications are commonly found with increasing age and represent no risk or function impairment.
The rest of the report up to the last sentence only describes normal findings, no abnormalities.
The last sentence regarding calcifications is perhaps the only part which would worry me a little. Such calcifications may be in the setting of atherosclerotic plaques of these vessels. Such atherosclerotic plaques do confer a higher risk of stroke. Perhaps a contrast exam may be scheduled in the future to check whether there is narrowing of these arteries due to atherosclerotic plaques. In terms of management though it doesn’t change much, it consists always in controlling risk factors such as blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol and treating them. A blood thinner such as Aspirin is also recommended.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
I wouldn't be that worried by that CT. Let's analyze it. The mild cerebral volume loss is a common finding after the sixties. All people start to lose some brain cells after our thirties, it's part of aging. As years progress that loss accumulates and becomes visible. So some mild loss at your age is to be expected.
The minimal microangiopathic changes are common with age as well, they are not desirable but they are common. Partly they are genetic due to changes in the walls of the blood vessels. They may also be influenced by issues such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking etc. They do not confer any immediate danger, not when mild. Only if more advanced can they become a risk for deterioration of cognitive functions or complications like ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. But again, the report says minimal and at 67 is expected.
The tiny calcification in the basal ganglia represents no risk at all. Such calcifications are commonly found with increasing age and represent no risk or function impairment.
The rest of the report up to the last sentence only describes normal findings, no abnormalities.
The last sentence regarding calcifications is perhaps the only part which would worry me a little. Such calcifications may be in the setting of atherosclerotic plaques of these vessels. Such atherosclerotic plaques do confer a higher risk of stroke. Perhaps a contrast exam may be scheduled in the future to check whether there is narrowing of these arteries due to atherosclerotic plaques. In terms of management though it doesn’t change much, it consists always in controlling risk factors such as blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol and treating them. A blood thinner such as Aspirin is also recommended.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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