What Does This MRI Report Indicate?

Posted on Thu, 16 Jun 2016

Question: I have been suffering from a ringing noise in the head for last 2 months.actually i had a severe cold that was making my throat choke when i sleep.and i had a depression because of it.soon i started to get noise in the head..not in ears..24/7. it was making me sleep difficult and it was very irritating. I then took treatment from a psychiatrist.i am on clonapax .5 mg twice a day,esciopax 20 mg once a day and peridon 100 mg once a day.but there was no relief, i got a MRI brain done yesterday and the impression of the report says" small gliotic foci in right cerebellar hemisphere? significant.suggested clinical correlation .." i am attaching the report as well. please advice me on what is the condition of my health and if any cure what is it, i had hot water epilepsy and had consulted you in XXXXXXX 3 years ago. now i am free of hot water epilepsy and not taking any medicine.I have BP and on cilacar 10 mg tablet and i am a prediabetic patient.

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (52 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
MRI finding could be due to a small old stroke.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thank you for posting your query.

I have noted your clinical details and also seen the MRI report.

First of all, I would like to reassure you that the MRI abnormality does not represent any serious disease.

The gliotic focus means it is a scar due to an old brain disease. Though it can be due to various diseases in the past, such as head injury, brain infection and brain stroke; the most likely cause could be an old stroke (due to lack of blood supply to a part of brain).

Old stroke could have been related to high BP and pre-diabetes. It is a minor abnormality and there is no need to worry.

You should keep your BP and sugar within normal limits. If there is a risk of stroke in future, then, blood thinners may be needed.

I am glad to note that you are free of hot water epilepsy now.

Best wishes,

Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM
Neurologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Naveen Kumar

Follow up: Dr. Sudhir Kumar (19 minutes later)

Thanks a lot for the quick reply. If you could tell me the possible reason for the ringing noise in the head and how long it would take to cure it..if at all curable..and any medication required for it.
Best regards

XXXX XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No obvious cause

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.

There are several brain diseases that can cause ringing noise in the head, but you do not have any brain disease that can cause that.

So, there is no obvious cause, however, anti-depressants such as escitalopram may sometimes cause this side effect.

Best wishes,

Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Naveen Kumar

Follow up: Dr. Sudhir Kumar (7 hours later)

Good morning sir, actually i was prescribed those antidepressants when i went to psychiatrist with the complain of ringing sound...so the noise was there even before i started to take escitopax, in fact the very purpose of taking these tablets was to stop the noise in the head.Psychiatrist felt the noise could be psychosomatic symptom.do you agree with it or do you feel any other reason for the noise. i am stressing this problem because it is very irritating and left me very disturbed. your valuable opinion is much appreciated.

Best regards

XXXX

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
There is no obvious cause

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.

Sound in the head can occur only due to brain or ear diseases. In your case, both are normal. So, it can be presumed to be of psychosomatic origin.

I hope the medications prescribed by the psychiatrist help you.

Best wishes,

Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Sudhir Kumar (34 hours later)

dear sir, today i consulted one neurologist here with the MRI report, he said the ringing sound could be because of nerve cell damage in the ear when i got a severe cold infection probably a sinus problem, he opined it could be tinnitus,and usually it is not cured.i request you to kindly give your opinion on this condition. Is is possible to know any damage done to ear nerve cells from MRI report.sorry for bothering you with third question.

best regards

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Ear nerve damage can be identified by ENT examination

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.

MRI of brain can not show any damage to the ear nerves. Ear nerve damage can be assessed by clinical examination conducted by ENT doctor. Also, there is no such mention of "ear nerve damage" in your MRI report.

Best wishes,

Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar