The brain (GM) is the most important organ, the center of the nervous system. When problems arise in it, pathologies affect all organs and systems. There are many GM diseases. Medicine cannot yet fight some of them, but it is quite possible to influence the course of the pathology. Other ailments are quite amenable to therapy.
By the nature of the root cause of the pathology, they are divided into diffuse and focal brain lesions. The former are characterized by uniformity. Usually, pathologies develop gradually, spreading to all living cells. A similar phenomenon can be observed with circulatory disorders, head injury, with viral infections. The main difference between diffuse and focal is the presence of chronic fatigue, apathy, pressing pains in the brain along the entire circuit, drowsiness, the functioning of the sensory organs is disrupted, and performance also decreases.
It is impossible to make an accurate diagnosis based on the clinical picture, patient complaints. To determine the type of lesion, it is necessary to undergo a diagnosis. The most informative method is computed tomography.
Clinical picture
A variety of symptoms can indicate focal brain lesions.
- Headache. Most often they appear suddenly, for no apparent reason. They are intense, reminiscent of a migraine. The pain can be encircled or localized on one or both sides of the brain.
- Blood pressure rises. With focal lesion, an increase in blood pressure indicates that the body is trying to compensate for the nutritional deficiency that occurred due to dystrophy of the GM vessels.
- There is a violation of hearing, vision, coordination of movement.
- Memory worsens, fatigue increases, weakness appears.
- There is nausea, vomiting, which does not bring relief.
- Fainting conditions.
- Tremor of the extremities, cramps, in some cases paralysis.
- Loss of reflexes.
- Disturbed breathing.
- A person is disturbed by psycho-emotional disorders, stress, irritability increases.
Epileptic seizures, strokes, which directly indicate the presence of focal brain damage, can be observed. All these symptoms may be pronounced, or may not occur at all.
Any clinical signs of the disease are associated with neurology, since nerve tissues are affected in focal lesions, which causes changes in the autonomic function.
Causes of GM damage
Focal lesions can be caused by a variety of reasons.
In case of focal lesions of the brain of a discirculatory nature, the cause may be a lack of nutrient intake caused by circulatory disturbance (with IB, stroke and other pathologies). Often the cause of the disease is a neoplasm. It has a negative effect on neighboring parts of the brain, causing various changes in them, up to the death of GM cells.
What else causes the disease?
Focal pathologies can be caused by traumatic brain injuries, hematomas, edema.
Also, the development of lesions can lead to:
- Pathology of the spine. One of the most common causes is osteochondrosis, in which nerves and blood vessels are compressed. As a result, an insufficient amount of blood enters the brain, the nutrition of cells is disrupted, and foci of GM damage occur.
- Fractures of the cervical spine. Within the neck are two large vessels. During a fracture, they can be damaged (torn, squeezed). Violation of blood flow in the cervical spine leads to inhibited blood supply to the brain. As a result, cells suffer from a lack of oxygen and nutrients.
- Excess weight. This reason is referred to as secondary. Obesity can lead to impaired brain performance. Particularly dangerous is obesity with a lack of motor activity.
- Atherosclerosis. With this pathology, cholesterol plaques form in the vessels. They clog the lumen of the vascular bed, which leads to a lack of nutrient intake.
- Endocrine pathology.
Diagnostics
To identify pathological changes occurring in the GM, conduct magnetic resonance imaging. This is the only way to find out what exactly is happening under the cranium, see all the adverse processes in the structure of the brain, evaluate the possible consequences and make the most accurate prediction of the development of the disease. In the diagnosis of focal brain lesions, MRI is the “golden” method that can give the most accurate assessment of the disease. It is non-invasive, fast and highly informative.
MRI allows you to determine the presence of a lesion, as well as to conduct a comparative analysis of the obtained images with images of a healthy brain. On them, almost all foci look like light spots of various sizes.
In addition, magnetic resonance imaging helps to accurately determine the number of foci. Single changes in the brain are observed in all patients over the age of 50 years. In such cases, it is necessary to monitor the dynamics of the outbreak, as well as take measures to eliminate the causes of GM damage.
Numerous defeats
Particularly noteworthy are patients who have multiple lesions. They are a sign of a serious pathology and may even serve as a symptom of a brain tumor. In the early stages, such diseases can be detected only after MRI.
If necessary, conduct blood vessel studies prescribe MRI with contrast. As a result of the introduction of a contrast agent, the blood is stained in a different color, which is reflected in special shades on MRI images. When analyzing them, the doctor sees how blood flows through the vessels, in what directions and whether there are injuries, blood clots, aneurysms.
Features of focal lesions
Characteristic features of brain damage are the presence of foci that provoke a violation of blood flow. The reason that caused such violations can lead not only to single foci, but also cause numerous lesions. At the same time, neighboring tissues are involved in pathological processes, turning them into abnormal zones.
Types of lesions
There are several types of focal ailments of GM. The most dangerous are neoplasms. In the early stages, the symptoms of a brain tumor can be confused with migraines and other diseases. But with growth, neuron function deteriorates, signal transmission to the brain is disrupted. If the tumor grows, then it begins to capture more and more new territories, and the clinical picture begins to grow.
Another type of focal ailment is a cyst (a small cavity with liquid contents). For a long time, the cavity does not make itself felt until it begins to grow and increase in size. Despite the fact that they are not prone to growth and increase in size, like neoplasms, they are also considered a foreign body. Cysts can provoke vascular compression, which complicates the flow of blood to the brain.
Foci of lesion are observed with necrosis. As a result of any transferred infections or other diseases, sections of brain cells die off without receiving the nutrition they need. Necrosis is dangerous because it entails irreversible changes.
Dangerous focal lesions of the white matter of the brain are intracerebral scars, hemorrhages. Most often they are the result of injuries, falls, bumps. Such types of foci lead to changes in the composition of the substance.
Any focal lesions of the brain of vascular origin lead to the destruction of GM cells and can lead to coma.
Treatment of focal ailments
Each specific disease has its own treatment characteristics. Any focal lesion of the cerebral cortex leads to serious consequences. Nevertheless, therapy should be carried out taking into account the cause that led to the onset of the ailment.
The doctor may include vitamins, painkillers, sedatives, and other drugs in a comprehensive treatment regimen. An important role is played by soothing baths, physiotherapy, lifestyle changes.