What is chronic white matter ischemia?

Published by Anaya Cole on

What is chronic white matter ischemia?

Decreased blood flow (ischemia) and nutrients to the white matter can cause damage to these nerve fibers (axons) including swelling, breaking and complete loss.

What does leukoaraiosis mean?

The term leukoaraiosis refers to neuroimaging abnormalities of the white matter, which appear as hypodense or hyperintense areas, are located predominantly in the periventricular area, and are found especially in older people [1,2].

What does white matter mean on a brain MRI?

White matter lesions (WMLs) are areas of abnormal myelination in the brain. These lesions are best visualized as hyperintensities on T2 weighted and FLAIR (Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery) sequences of magnetic resonance imaging. They are considered a marker of small vessel disease.

What is nonspecific white matter hyperintensities?

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) is a non-specific term that refers to white matter (WM) signal hyperintensity areas on T2 weighted MRI scans, and correlates with WM rarefaction (leucoaraiosis) as defined on CT scans. The main risk factors associated with development of WMH are older age and blood hypertension.

What is hyperintensity in the frontal lobe?

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are a common age-related macrostructural brain change shown on T2-wieghted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which represent localized white matter damage.

Does white matter mean dementia?

White matter has a legitimate position in the study of dementia. The neuropathology of white matter disorders is typically diffuse or widespread, thus disrupting many networks simultaneously and producing a multi-domain syndrome that merits the term dementia.

What does hyperintensities in the brain mean?

A hyperintensity or T2 hyperintensity is an area of high intensity on types of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brain of a human or of another mammal that reflect lesions produced largely by demyelination and axonal loss.

Can white matter hyperintensities go away?

Sometimes, WMHs go away—for example, if an infection is cured or a tumor removed. Sometimes, the white lesions improve, but then worsen. This can occur with an episodic, inflammatory condition like lupus, which can cycle between periods of inflammation and remission.

Categories: Blog