Understanding a brain scan report often feels like trying to crack a secret code. However, the written summary is actually your best tool to understand your condition. It helps translate complex medical images into clear findings about your brain.
Physicians rely on the scan findings to examine your brain and analyze how it differs from normal results. This guide shows you how to navigate the scans so you can understand what your results truly mean.
What Is a Brain Scan?
A brain scan is a medical procedure in which a picture of your brain’s inner structure is taken. This medical procedure uses magnets or X-rays to look inside your head.
This is a non-invasive way of looking at what is going on inside your brain. This technology can help identify the cause of symptoms like dizziness or memory loss. It works by looking for physical abnormalities within the structures of your brain.
In most cases, the procedure is quite straightforward. You are placed on a sliding table that fits inside a large scanner. The scanner then uses a combination of angles to produce a 3D image of your brain.
Brain MRI vs. Brain CT Scan
In a brain MRI, powerful magnets and radio waves are used to create a map of how water molecules in your cells respond to a magnetic field. It creates a detailed map of how different areas of your brain are affected by disease.
In addition, a doctor can make use of a brain MRI to determine damage to the myelin, which is the protective insulation or “covering” around your nerves. A MRI scan can determine if anything has been affected by multiple sclerosis, as well as, identify the specific boundaries of a small tumor. Therefore, it is preferred for the diagnosis of a variety of chronic health issues.
On the other hand, in a brain CT scan, X-rays are used to produce a quick map of your skull. It is a quicker process than a brain MRI. Therefore, in emergency situations, a brain CT scan is preferred over a brain MRI.
In addition, it is effective in producing images of “dense” objects like bone or blood. Therefore, it helps medical teams to quickly identify life-threatening issues like skull fractures and strokes.
Basics of Interpreting Brain Scan Results
Radiologists attempt to interpret the brain scan by comparing the anatomy of the brain. Professionals check for symmetry between the two hemispheres or sides of the brain.
If one side is displaced, then there may be a mass or a pocket of fluid present. This comparison can help identify areas of swelling that disrupt normal brain function.
How Radiologists Review a Brain Scan
A brain scan is composed of hundreds of “digital slices” of your brain, which a brain scan specialist examines to create a mental picture of your health in 3D form. The brain is viewed from the top, front, and sides to make sure nothing is overlooked. This detailed examination can assist in detecting small abnormalities that might be overlooked.
In the process of examining the brain scan, the specialists look for “mass effect” on healthy brain tissue. This is usually when abnormal tissue is pushing healthy brain tissue out of its normal position. The specialists also look for “signal changes” in brain scan images by locating areas that are “too bright” or “too dark”.
Signs of Structural Shifts
The term “midline” is often used in reports, referring to the dividing line between the two halves of the brain. The healthy brain is normally perfectly centered within the skull. The skull is a rigid space, so when a pocket of blood or tumor is present, it will press on one side of the brain.
The pressure on one side of the brain is often referred to as a “midline shift” in your report. Your doctor may be able to explain how this relates to your recovery from your current symptoms.
Understanding the Ventricles
Ventricles are fluid-filled areas in the brain’s center and function as shock absorbers. These areas also serve to remove waste products to maintain a healthy brain. If the ventricles are enlarged, this could mean there is a fluid buildup or a possible blockage in the system.
If the ventricles look “effaced,” or squeezed, this may mean that the brain is swollen. Doctors measure these areas to determine if there is increased pressure within the skull.
Interpreting Brain MRI Results
The MRI result is a detailed image of the brain’s soft tissue through the use of magnetic fields.
This technology enables the doctor to view the delicate balance of the various types of brain matter. It can also highlight the specific physical changes in the brain that cause the symptoms by showing the location of the struggling brain tissue.
What Does an MRI of the Brain Show?
The scan will show you the details of the white and gray matter. These areas control everything from your thoughts to your movements. It can also show you small areas of inflammation or scarring, which other scans might not be able to pick up.
If you have long-term symptoms, this scan will tell you the most about what’s going on in your body. It will help your doctor see “how” a condition like multiple sclerosis is affecting your nerves.
How to Read an MRI Scan of the Brain
In order to understand a brain MRI, it is helpful to know that an MRI takes different kinds of “pictures” called “sequences.” These are simply different settings used to emphasize different areas of your body.
- T1 images are like a regular map of your brain’s structure. In T1 images, fluids are usually represented by a dark color, making it easier for solid areas of your brain to be seen well. Your doctor may use this to determine whether your brain’s overall size and shape are normal.
- T2 images tend to be clearer for spotting signs of illness or injury. In this image, fluid and inflammation tend to be bright white. This high contrast can help the specialist spot swelling or hidden areas where tissue damage has occurred.
The radiologist’s concluding summary will synthesize all the different images into one understandable story. The radiologist will look at how all these sequences come together to create the complete picture of your health. You can find this summary in the “impression” section at the end of your report.
Common Findings in an MRI Result
The MRI result may include terms like “white matter hyperintensities” in its text. This is often a natural occurrence in the aging process of the brain.
It is not uncommon to find that healthy people have this in their MRI results. This is more likely to happen to people whose blood pressure is high. This is not really a cause for concern in most cases. Your doctor may be able to give more information on this in relation to your case.
Serial Imaging and Comparison
It is not often that doctors get to look at just one picture of the brain in relation to diagnosing an issue with it. More often than not, doctors will choose to do multiple imaging sessions over a course of time to compare changes in a patient’s condition.
If a new CT scan result is compared to an older one, it gives a clearer picture on how effective treatment is or how a condition is progressing.
How Doctors Compare Scan Results
A radiologist will also use a “side-by-side” method. They will look at subtle changes in the size of the lesion or the degree of swelling.
The goal of this process is to determine if something is “acute” or “new,” “subacute” or “evolving,” or “chronic” or “old.” The radiologist will also make sure they are reviewing the same “slice” of the brain by comparing digital images taken at different times.
This will help them determine if they need to make changes to your medication protocol or not.
The Role of Contrast in Follow-up Scans
Most of the time, a second brain scan may require a “contrast agent.”
- What it is: A special dye injected into your vein.
- What it is used for: It helps to highlight your blood flow and your “blood brain barrier.”
- How it helps: If a certain area is highlighted or has dye, it means your body is actively working to fix or heal that area.
- What it means to you: It will help you know if a tumor is active or if a previous injury has healed into scar tissue.
What Your Brain Scan Can Reveal
With a brain scan, you can see exactly where abnormalities exist. This can give you a better understanding of where the blockage is, as well as the effects of a brain injury, by measuring the flow of blood through the vessels of the brain. This can give your doctor a better understanding of which areas of the brain are not getting enough oxygen.
Knowing these specific areas of the brain is essential to getting a treatment that will actually work for you. For example, knowing the extent of an old injury can help a brain specialist know which physical therapies will be most effective.
Incidental Findings
Sometimes, a scan may show a spot that isn’t causing any problems at all. These are referred to as “incidental findings,” meaning the doctor found something they weren’t looking for.
- What they are: Could be small cysts or benign growths that have been there for years.
- Why they happen: New scanners are so sensitive that they see everything.
- What this means for you: An incidental finding does not always need surgery or medicine. In most cases, your doctor simply monitors it.
The Power of Early Detection
Imaging can also detect problems before they become difficult to treat. For instance, detecting a tumor or a change in a vessel can assist doctors in treating a condition when it is in its early stages. This process works by identifying tiny structural shifts that haven’t caused major symptoms yet.
Detecting a small tumor or a weakened vessel can assist your medical team in providing you with the best possible care options. Additionally, these tests can also clear you of serious health issues, which can help provide a massive sense of relief.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will a brain scan detect?
A brain scan can show if there are any problems with the structure of the brain, like tumors, bleeding, or strokes. Also, it can show if there are any signs of infection or long-term neurological problems. In addition, it can show if there’s any abnormal pressure on the brain.
Is a brain scan a CT or MRI?
It can be a CT scan or an MRI. The doctor will decide which one is best for you depending on the symptoms. A CT scan is normally used for brief checks or for the bones. An MRI is normally used for detailed observations of the soft tissues of the brain.
What are the three types of brain scans?
The three most common types of tests include MRI, CT, and PET scans. The MRI and CT scans allow doctors to see the physical structure of the brain. The PET scan, however, allows doctors to see how the brain is using energy. These tests provide different ways for doctors to see how you’re doing.
Take the Next Step Toward Your Health
Understanding the results of your brain scan is a journey you don’t have to go through alone. Though the reports may look complicated, the most important parts are quite easy to read. Start by looking in the “impression” section. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to make sure you are getting the right information.
In most cases, the results of the scan will give you the answers you need to move forward. Knowledge is the key to being able to advocate for the care you need.
If you are facing questions about your neurological health, we are here to help. Visit Neurotrauma Centers to schedule a consultation. Let our specialists help you make sense of the results today.