Table of Contents
What is punctate foci in the brain?
The presence of a few hyperintense punctate foci in the cerebral white matter at MRI is a very common finding that can be regarded as insignificant in most of the cases. These bright dots, considered as normal, can be a manifestation of dilated perivascular spaces or small gliotic or lacunar ischemic foci.
What causes hyperintense foci?
Causes. White matter hyperintensities can be caused by a variety of factors including ischemia, micro-hemorrhages, gliosis, damage to small blood vessel walls, breaches of the barrier between the cerebrospinal fluid and the brain, or loss and deformation of the myelin sheath.
What do white spots on MRI brain scan mean?
Small strokes are the most common cause of white spots on a brain MRI. Small strokes are often caused by blockages of small blood vessels due to high blood pressure and/or diabetes. Large strokes are usually caused by heart disease or carotid artery disease.
What can white spots on brain MRI mean?
What do white spots on brain MRI mean?
What Are White Spots? Spots on a brain MRI are caused by changes in water content and fluid movement that occur in brain tissue when the brain cells are inflamed or damaged. These lesions are more easily seen on T2 weighted images, a term that describes the frequency (speed) of the radio impulses used during your scan.
What are punctate foci lesions in the brain?
Punctate foci lesions found in the brain, however, can be a sign of possible multiple sclerosis. These lesions are seen during an MRI scan of the brain and show up as pinpoint lesions within the white matter.
What does a few scattered punctate foci mean?
a few scattered punctate foci of increased t2/flair signal of the supratentorial white matter which is nonspecific meaning? See below: It means you may have tiny lesions in white matter where nerve fibers extend away from nerve cells. The increased signals may indicate areas of injury
What causes scattered foci of white matter lesions?
Maybe nonspecific: If you have migraine, such white matter lesions are usually posterior, and if you had head trauma, the location may be more anterior, but both head and neck trauma could cause some increased foci.
What to do about punctate foci subcortical white matter?
No worries: These are areas of subclinical (non-symptomatic) strokes. Suggest low fat diet, cholesterol check, blood pressure control as this could be a predictor of worsening vascular disease in future. See your internist.