MRI of head results - help with understanding

[cks]

It started with high BP 205/105 1 1/2 yrs ago - now on meds 140/82 - Lotrel - occasional dizzy like symptoms numbness left side neck & face.  Doctor seemed to think dizzyness was an inner ear problem with balance? and migraine headaches -- do you agree??
- MRI results - what does it mean? Could this be normal for me because of high blood pressure & headaches and my age I am 58 yrs. old female.  "Mild cortical atrophy.  Focally prominent extraaxial CSF density in right posterior parietal cortex.  Arachnoid cyst of some focal atrophy could give this appearance.  No evidence of underlying brain signal abnormality.  Evidence of mild chronic small vessel ischemic white matter disease bilaterally - a little more prominent in left cerebral hemisphere than the right.  No acute intracranial findings"
Could this be because of the blood pressure I had been having, or should I be concerned?  Is this a signal that I could have a stroke -- or have already had small stroke or strokes - is this a sign of premature brain aging?? I do not seem to have any more than the usual memory problems from a busy person with a job and family. I am concerned about this white matter result Thank you for your opinion.

[jaleen3]

I received an MRI for my head, because of migraine for the past 10 years.  

Findings:  
1. The MRI of the brain demonstrates a few small nonspecific bright FLAIR/T2 foci in the deep white matter in the frontal and anterior parietal lobes and at least a single similar lesion in the right high parietal area. This may represent minimal microvascular ischemic change.  No other significant abnormality on the standard MRI of the brain was seen.
2. The MRA of the brain appears unremarkable aside from note of an absent right A1 segment of the arterior communicating artery.

My doctor just say take an aspirin a date but on the internet this problem seems critical.  Please help.

[richarddiener]

A related discussion, mri report after severe lacerations and severe blow to head was started.

[oldgirl920]

A related discussion, mircovascular ischemic disease was started.

[tsurgo]

A related discussion, MRI results was started.

[pappi]

A related discussion, ischemic white matter disease was started.

[Plano01]

I got the results back from my MRI and I really need someone to explain to me what this means before I lose my mind. It states: THERE ARE MULITPLE PUNCTATE FOCI OF DEEP WHITE MATTER SIGNAL CHANGE. DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS INCLUDE MIGRAINE HEADACHES, VASCULITIS, SMALL VESSEL ISCHEMIC CHANGE, AND DEMYELINATION/MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. NO ADDITIONAL ABNORMALITIES ARE APPRECIATED.

PLEASE HELP!!

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW]

I cannot give you a definite interpretation of the scan without seeing it, but based on the report:

mild atrophy depending on the degree, can be normal in your age group.Likewise an 'extraxial CSF density' ie an arachnoid cyst is also a common incidental finging on MRI and usually does not give any trouble unless very big
small vessel ischemic changes are common in your age group especially with high blood pressure and are a manifestation of 'hardening of the arteries' related to high blood pressure
they do not represent strokes per se and are usually aymptomatic, but you should be careful to keep your blood pressure under control to decrease the risk of a future stroke and also follow other healthy habits like healthy diet, no smoking etc - the very fact that you have high blood pressure puts you at greater risk of a stroke in comarison with the general population. The good thing is you can do something about it!