Whether it is necessary to do MRT heads at an insult and headaches?

One of the main indications of MRI of the head are chronic or often recurring headaches. Writing out the direction on the MRI of the head, the doctor does this, first of all, in order to exclude the brain tumor. This method of examination, like no other, allows us to identify tumor diseases and distinguish benign neoplasm from malignant (as a rule, MRI with contrast is used for this). Along with tumors, a common cause of headaches is a violation of the blood circulation of the brain. And in this case, the MRI of the head comes to the rescue, namely, the angiography of cerebral vessels. This especially applies to cases of ischemic brain disease (IBI) against the background of vascular atherosclerosis, which causes chronic insufficiency of blood supply to the brain and associated headaches.

MRI of the brain allows you to determine the speed of blood flow, the presence of vascular pathologies, including aneurysms, identify areas and causes of narrowing of the lumen of the vessels, as well as thrombi. As for the acute violation of cerebral circulation, called stroke, then in this case, magnetic resonance imaging can be useful and even irreplaceable. And this despite the fact that the main and most important method of examination for acute stroke is CT, or computed tomography. This is due to the fact that, firstly, CT is better showing acute bleeding, and secondly, it takes less time. MRI of the head takes longer, which excludes its use for diagnosis in cases where every minute is expensive.

On the other hand, CT can not always unequivocally show that it is a stroke. If the nature of the patient's complaints gives reason to suspect a stroke and the CT does not show it, such a patient must be sent to the MRI of the head. It is the MRI of the head that allows you to see a site of necrosis of nerve tissue - a focus of cerebral infarction, or stroke. Thus, MRI of the head is not an alternative to CT in stroke, but is an additional method of examination. If CT shows hemorrhage, the MRI of the head is damage to the brain tissue. In addition, the MRI of the head helps to detect postischemic cysts.

The role of the MRI of the head for differential diagnosis is very high, in order to correctly diagnose, when the symptoms do not give an opportunity to pinpoint their cause. Along with a brain tumor, arterial hypertension and stroke, the cause of headaches can be "cervical artery syndrome" with osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia of the cervical region, as well as impaired circulation of cerebrospinal fluid, intraocular fluid, intoxication, irritation of the meninges, traumatic hemorrhage. In addition, there are such kinds of headaches as migraine and tension headache.

MRI of the head is recommended in cases where headaches are accompanied by dizziness, impaired coordination of movements, balance, nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure. In the event that headaches are accompanied by a painful strain on the muscles of the neck, the doctor may suspect a defeat of the meninges. In this case, the MRI of the head is mandatory. If the brain examination does not show anything, MRI of the cervical spine, including the vessels of the neck, is performed.