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What Does This MRI Report Indicate?
Question: Dear Doctor,
My wife is having frequent headache (approx once or twice a week). Sometimes this is accompanied by a little swelling behind left ear which causes pain when touched. We visited a doctor and he suggested to get brain MRI done. She has got her brain MRI done and the report is uploaded. The doctor whom we visited is not available this week. Could you please suggest anything based on the uploaded MRI report. Thanks.
My wife is having frequent headache (approx once or twice a week). Sometimes this is accompanied by a little swelling behind left ear which causes pain when touched. We visited a doctor and he suggested to get brain MRI done. She has got her brain MRI done and the report is uploaded. The doctor whom we visited is not available this week. Could you please suggest anything based on the uploaded MRI report. Thanks.
Brief Answer:
Such Mri changes may be associated with migraine
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
The attached Mri report is near normal except some focal white matter changes which can be present in migraine headache too.
What is the headache type?
Any nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light or sound with headache?
Character of headache like throbbing, pulsating or Bursting?
Duration of headache and intensity?
Any aggravating or relieving factors?
Any family history of migraine?
Other causes of such changes may require further investigation.
Such a findings may be incidental finding in headache but not the cause of headache.
You can upload images of Mri too.
My suggestion will be to get treatment for headache and stop worrying about Mri.
Your neurologist will advise you wisely after reviewing images for need of any further investigation.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Do get back to me for further queries.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Such Mri changes may be associated with migraine
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
The attached Mri report is near normal except some focal white matter changes which can be present in migraine headache too.
What is the headache type?
Any nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light or sound with headache?
Character of headache like throbbing, pulsating or Bursting?
Duration of headache and intensity?
Any aggravating or relieving factors?
Any family history of migraine?
Other causes of such changes may require further investigation.
Such a findings may be incidental finding in headache but not the cause of headache.
You can upload images of Mri too.
My suggestion will be to get treatment for headache and stop worrying about Mri.
Your neurologist will advise you wisely after reviewing images for need of any further investigation.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Do get back to me for further queries.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Naveen Kumar
Hi Doc,
Thanks for your response. Pls see response from my wife below:
Would like to understand what does "focal white matter changes" means.
I am not sure about the headache type, but it's in complete head including forehead till the behind of left ear.
I feel discomfort with light and sound during that time.
Whenever it happens, it is severe and feel like bursting until i take a medicine (nimuslide), irrespective of me taking rest with/without medicine.
It happens anytime during the day - nothing specific that i can mention, and sometimes when a just woke up on weekend morning (little late).
I don't have anyone in my family with migrane history though my Mom has spontolitis problem.
I try to lie down on my left side while sleeping and then my swelling behind the left ear increases due to which i feel discomfort in that area. And thus have to sleep on my right side only.
I visited the neurologist with MRi report and he said that I have vascular headache but as we are planning for pregnancy hence the doctoir said that medicines could create issues and he suggested to take crocin whenever I will have headache in future.
Pls review above details and advise.
I will also try to scan and upload MRI images.
Thanks for your response. Pls see response from my wife below:
Would like to understand what does "focal white matter changes" means.
I am not sure about the headache type, but it's in complete head including forehead till the behind of left ear.
I feel discomfort with light and sound during that time.
Whenever it happens, it is severe and feel like bursting until i take a medicine (nimuslide), irrespective of me taking rest with/without medicine.
It happens anytime during the day - nothing specific that i can mention, and sometimes when a just woke up on weekend morning (little late).
I don't have anyone in my family with migrane history though my Mom has spontolitis problem.
I try to lie down on my left side while sleeping and then my swelling behind the left ear increases due to which i feel discomfort in that area. And thus have to sleep on my right side only.
I visited the neurologist with MRi report and he said that I have vascular headache but as we are planning for pregnancy hence the doctoir said that medicines could create issues and he suggested to take crocin whenever I will have headache in future.
Pls review above details and advise.
I will also try to scan and upload MRI images.
Brief Answer:
Follow advice as suggested and remain in follow up
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Focal white matter changes means involvement of covering of few neurons in brain which can be due to any cause. In your case it seems to be related to migraine headache.
The migraine headache should be managed depending upon number of attacks in a month.
If it's very infrequent like 3-4 episodes in a month then regular treatment is not required and only timely paracetamol will be enough. In pregnancy especially in first 3 months pain killers should be avoided or kept minimal.
For more episodes in a month, prophylaxis treatment can be taken.
Propranolol is the safest drug in pregnancy.
Other medications available for migraine in non pregnant state are Flunarizine, Topiramate, Valproate, amitryptiline.
Best measures in pregnancy is life style modification. Take adequate rest and sleep, timely food, avoid fasting, avoid excessive tea, coffee, chocolate.
With all these measures migraine ( vascular headache) can be controlled to a great extent.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Do get back to me for further queries.
You can also put direct premium question on my name in future for communication.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Follow advice as suggested and remain in follow up
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Focal white matter changes means involvement of covering of few neurons in brain which can be due to any cause. In your case it seems to be related to migraine headache.
The migraine headache should be managed depending upon number of attacks in a month.
If it's very infrequent like 3-4 episodes in a month then regular treatment is not required and only timely paracetamol will be enough. In pregnancy especially in first 3 months pain killers should be avoided or kept minimal.
For more episodes in a month, prophylaxis treatment can be taken.
Propranolol is the safest drug in pregnancy.
Other medications available for migraine in non pregnant state are Flunarizine, Topiramate, Valproate, amitryptiline.
Best measures in pregnancy is life style modification. Take adequate rest and sleep, timely food, avoid fasting, avoid excessive tea, coffee, chocolate.
With all these measures migraine ( vascular headache) can be controlled to a great extent.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Do get back to me for further queries.
You can also put direct premium question on my name in future for communication.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Hi Doc,
I have tried to scan the images and uploaded them in 8 parts. Request you to pls review them and suggest if there any additional comments from your side.
Thanks for all your help and suggestions.
I have tried to scan the images and uploaded them in 8 parts. Request you to pls review them and suggest if there any additional comments from your side.
Thanks for all your help and suggestions.
Brief Answer:
Nothing serious, take treatment as advised
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
I have reviewed all images and nothing serious findings are present.
The reported changes are non specific.
If you want to get some investigations then go for Vitamin B12 tested.
Wishing good health.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Nothing serious, take treatment as advised
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
I have reviewed all images and nothing serious findings are present.
The reported changes are non specific.
If you want to get some investigations then go for Vitamin B12 tested.
Wishing good health.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Naveen Kumar
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