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Neurology (Expert Forum)
enlarged capillaries in pons
Answered by
Lama Chahine, MD - Neurology
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland - OH
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury.
enlarged capillaries in pons
by hoistvhead, Oct 28, 2009 08:36AM
I recently had an injury to my left temple. A CT scan showed no fractures or bleeding. When I returned to work, I found that I had double vision. I was referred to an opthamologist who diagnosed possible fourth nerve palsy. I had an MRI, but the opthamologist didn't expect to show nerve damage. What it did show was enlarged capillaries in the pons. The doctor who explained the MRI results said that he didn't know that it was a problem.
Could this have been caused by the head injury? Should I pursue diagnosis? What could enlarged capillaries cause?
I had some symptoms before the head injury. I have had a persistant moderate headaches, occasional dizziness, and memory problems.
Could this have been caused by the head injury? Should I pursue diagnosis? What could enlarged capillaries cause?
I had some symptoms before the head injury. I have had a persistant moderate headaches, occasional dizziness, and memory problems.
Doctor's Answer
by Lama Chahine, MD, Oct 30, 2009 07:54PM
, Oct 30, 2009 07:54PM
Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.
Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.
Head trauma can lead to contusion (literally a bruising) of the brain, as well as bleeding in the brain or around the brain. This would have been seen on the MRI and CT that you had. After head trauma, dizziness, headaches, and double vision can occur and are usually transient and resolve within days to weeks.
I am not sure I understand what is meant by the term 'enlarged capillaries" in the pons. Capillaries are minute blood vessels that can not be seen on MRI. However, a specific type of blood vessel malformation, capillary telengiectasia, or other vascular malformations can be seen on MRI, and perhaps that is what was meant by that term used. This would not have been caused by the recent head trauma.
I recommend that you discuss your MRI findings with someone who understands the brain and brain imaging. It may be most appropriate to first request the official report of your MRI, then take it to your primary doctor/internist, and see if he/she can understand and explain the results to you. If it then appears based on the report that there is some abnormality in the pons, evaluation by a neurologist, with review of the films by the neurologist (take the actual films to the neurologist) may be most appropriate.
Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.
Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.
Head trauma can lead to contusion (literally a bruising) of the brain, as well as bleeding in the brain or around the brain. This would have been seen on the MRI and CT that you had. After head trauma, dizziness, headaches, and double vision can occur and are usually transient and resolve within days to weeks.
I am not sure I understand what is meant by the term 'enlarged capillaries" in the pons. Capillaries are minute blood vessels that can not be seen on MRI. However, a specific type of blood vessel malformation, capillary telengiectasia, or other vascular malformations can be seen on MRI, and perhaps that is what was meant by that term used. This would not have been caused by the recent head trauma.
I recommend that you discuss your MRI findings with someone who understands the brain and brain imaging. It may be most appropriate to first request the official report of your MRI, then take it to your primary doctor/internist, and see if he/she can understand and explain the results to you. If it then appears based on the report that there is some abnormality in the pons, evaluation by a neurologist, with review of the films by the neurologist (take the actual films to the neurologist) may be most appropriate.
Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.
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