One of the main indications are chronic or frequently recurring headaches. Writing out the direction for an MRI of the head, the doctor does this, first of all, in order to exclude a brain tumor. This examination method, like no other, allows us to identify tumor diseases and to distinguish a benign neoplasm from a malignant one (as a rule, MRI with contrast is used for this). Along with tumors, a common cause of headaches is a disturbance in the blood circulation of the brain. And in this case, MRI of the head comes to the rescue, namely, MR-angiography of cerebral vessels. This is especially true for cases of ischemic brain disease (IBM) against the background of vascular atherosclerosis, which causes chronic insufficiency of blood supply to the brain and related headaches.
allows you to determine the speed of blood flow, the presence of vascular pathologies, including aneurysms, to identify areas and causes of narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels, as well as blood clots. As for acute cerebrovascular accident, called a stroke, then in this case, magnetic resonance imaging may be useful and even indispensable. And this despite the fact that CT, or computed tomography, is considered the main and primary method of examination for acute stroke. This is due to the fact that, firstly, a CT scan shows better acute bleeding, and secondly, it takes less time. MRI of the head requires more time, which excludes its use for diagnosis in cases where every minute is expensive.
On the other hand, a CT scan cannot always clearly show that it is a stroke that occurs. If the nature of the patient’s complaints gives reason to suspect a stroke, and CT does not show it, such a patient must be referred to an MRI of the head. It is the MRI of the head that allows you to see the site of necrosis of nerve tissue - the focus of cerebral infarction, or stroke. Thus, head MRI is not an alternative to CT in stroke, but is an additional examination method. If a CT scan shows hemorrhage, then an MRI of the head is damage to brain tissue. In addition, head MRI helps detect postischemic cysts.
The role of head MRI for differential diagnosis is very high, in order to correctly diagnose when the symptoms do not make it possible to accurately determine their cause. Along with a brain tumor, arterial hypertension and stroke, the cause of headaches can be “cervical artery syndrome” with osteochondrosis, an intervertebral hernia of the cervical spine, as well as impaired circulation of cerebrospinal fluid, intraocular fluid, intoxication, irritation of the meninges, and traumatic hemorrhage. In addition, there are types of headaches such as migraines and tension headaches.
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 case headaches are accompanied by painful tension in the muscles of the neck, the doctor may suspect damage to the meninges. In this case, an MRI of the head is prescribed. If the brain examination does not show anything, an MRI of the cervical spine, including the vessels of the neck, is performed.