INTERPRET MRI

  : I need an interpretation for my husband's MRI of his head;
  : "images reveal the ventricles to be at the upper limits of normal in size
  : without evidence of displacement.  The basal cisterns and sulci over
  : the convexities appear somewhat prominent.  There are a few small
  : scattered areas of increased signal intensity involving the subcortical
  : white matter of both cerebral hemispheres.  No other focal areas of abnormal signal intensity are noted.  No mass effects are seen.  no
  : extra-axial fluid collections are noted.  Incidental note is made of probable
  : mucous retention cyst formation in both maxillary antra.
  :      IMPRESSION:
  : 1.  Prominent CSF spaces.
  : 2.  Focal areas of hyperintensity suggestive of ischemic change.   The
  : possibility of diffuse axonal?????? type injury cannot be excluded.  
  :  
  : Please use layman's terms.  My husband was diagnosed with a closed
  : head injury,  I am not sure what all this means.
  : Thank you very much.
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Dear Diane,
The radiologist is saying that he doesn't see anything terribly abnormal on the MRI.  In cases of trauma one can occasionally see evidence of diffuse axonal injury, but that doesn't seem prominent here.  Diffuse axonal injury implies that some neurons in the brain were injured or sheared during the injury.  Again, the radiologist cannot be sure here.  The big issue is how well your husband is doing.  There are no lesions that require surgery based on this report.
Good luck.