If your doctor orders a brain MRI, your mind may logically jump to the worst-case scenario: you have a brain tumor or another possibly fatal ailment. However, MRI of the brain is really utilized as a diagnostic technique for a variety of disorders that affect the brain and spinal cord.
While many brain disorders are serious or life-threatening, it’s vital to remember that a brain MRI isn’t something to be afraid of. It’s a helpful procedure that can aid your medical team in seeing any difficulties and treating them before they become more serious.
What is a brain MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)?
An MRI of the brain uses noninvasive technology to provide a detailed image of your brain, including the brainstem and pituitary gland. These scans offer your medical team with a wealth of information about the appearance of your brain and any medical disorders that may be influencing it.
Conditions that a Brain MRI Can Detect
- Hemorrhages or Aneurysms
An MRI of the brain can be used to detect aneurysms and hemorrhages in the brain, both of which are potentially fatal.
- Edema of the brain
This inflammation usually indicates that something or someone is putting too much pressure on your brain.
- Tumors or Cysts
An MRI of the brain can detect cysts and malignancies in the brain. Cysts and tumors are both abnormal growths that can be malignant or noncancerous.
- TBI stands for traumatic brain injury.
A brain MRI allows physicians to determine the exact site of the damage as well as the extent of the injury’s effects, such as bleeding or edema.
- Hydrocephalus
When there is too much fluid in your head, it is called hydrocephalus. While a certain amount of fluid is required to preserve your spinal cord and brain, too much can be harmful. An excess of fluid exerts pressure on the brain’s tissues, preventing it from working correctly and potentially leading to death.
- MS is a disease that affects the central nervous system.
An MRI of the brain is commonly used to confirm a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis as well as to assess the severity and progression of the disease.
- Disorders of the Spinal Cord
An MRI brain scan in New Jersey of the brain can be utilized to adequately view an injury and establish future steps for therapy because soft tissue lesions, such as those around the spinal cord, aren’t caught vividly on radioactive scans, such as CT.
- Stroke
When the blood supply to a section of your brain is cut off or obstructed, a stroke develops. When the flow of oxygenated blood to your brain is disrupted, brain tissue can begin to die within minutes.
An ischemic stroke or a brain hemorrhage can result in damaged brain tissue, which can be seen with a brain MRI and utilized to determine immediate next steps for care.
