Travelling son

[Durward]

My 19 year old son has been very healthy, playing water polo and the likes at a competitive level for years. He is travelling in Australia and has passed out and had a type of seizure out a few times since he went there in October. He recently had an MRI after the last episode and was told that he had a "single punctate foci of non-specific T2/FLAIR hyperintensity." Can you please help me understand what that means?  

[kwarendorf]

Hi Durward,
I'm sorry your son is having trouble while so far away from home. T2/FLAIR are types of MRI methods rather than findings.

As Laura said, the single punctuate foci found on your son's MRI could well be associated with his symptoms. The language you quoted sounds like it is from a radiology report, rather than from a clinician. Has he seen a doctor since the MRI?

Kyle

[Lulu54]

How frightening for you as a parent to not be close to your son and see for yourself what is going on.  The single point on his MRI that the radiologist has referenced could come from so many things, it would be premature to guess the cause. Hyperintensity primarily means it is a bright spot that is different from the surrounding brain tissue.     It is quite possible this spot is an indication of the seizures your son has experienced.  

More important than the MRI results is his  clinical presentation, which is what the doctors might find on a physical exam or in talking with your son.  Does he have specific symptoms that have been examined by a neurologist?  

I hope he is getting good care and you are receiving regular updates on his quest for answers. be sure to let us know if you have more questions  ~Laura