MRI results?

Question

faint focus of increase signal intensity seen in the region of the right basal ganglia which could represent some mild ischemic changes. What does this mean?

Answer 1

jrroskamp,

Ischemia is from the Greek, a word that is divided "isc" and "hemia." It means "not enough blood."

So there's a part of your brain, the basal ganglia, which lies just above the medulla and around the thymus gland, which might not be getting quite enough blood flow to it.

You must have had some symptoms that sent you to a doctor for this. I'm not sure what part of the basal ganglia is effected most, so there's no way to tell what effects it's having on you. The basal ganglia are not quite separate from each other even though there are several parts to them (it), and though they lie at the base of the cerebral hemispheres, so ischemia that affects one part can conceivably affect other parts, and the basal ganglia are pretty important.

What is obstructing the blood flow will need to be discovered. If it is a blood clot forming, that may be the easiest condition to treat.

Have you been advised to start aspirin therapy? Have your doctors, especially your neurologist, prescribed heparin (sometimes called by the name Warfarin?) You might want to ask about this.

If it is something else, your doctor will tell you soon. Make it very soon.

Answer 2

Ischemia means a that the blood supply to the right basal ganglia has been obtunded hence increase in signal intensity, you should consult a good neurologist and cardiologist for further streamlining the course of treatment of your cases.

Answer 3

Ischemic simply means an obstruction of blood flow or oxygen decrease. The report suggest mild so probably not very serious at the moment but something that might need to be followed closely. Best left to your cardiologist to decide the medical opinion.