BRAIN LESIONS

A brain lesions is a damaged or inflamed area of the brain. Brain lesions arise from injury, trauma, infection, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, stroke, tumours, and exposure to certain chemicals. 

When we think of lesions, we often picture an inflammation area — perhaps a scraped knee or a scarred elbow. Indeed, lesions mostly refer to any tissue area that has suffered injury or damage. But what about brain lesions? We cannot immediately tell when the brain is wounded. Furthermore, brain lesions may not even manifest any symptoms at all.

Should you be concerned about them? Do they cause severe problems in the long run? This article contains everything you need to know about this health concern.

Multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease may also cause lesions to form. Some cases are genetic and appear as congenital disabilities. They can also be linked to ageing among specific individuals.

SYMPTOMS

The symptoms of a brain lesion are non-specific, making it difficult for one to diagnose the health concern at a glance. Cases vary depending on where the lesion is located, what caused it, and how large the lesion is. Symptoms also vary among individuals.

The following list is a list of symptoms that are widely observed among patients with brain lesion:

  • Headaches
  • Fever
  • Nausea and frequent vomiting
  • Inability to concentrate on seemingly normal activities
  • Involuntary movement or shaking; convolution in severe cases
  • A sudden shift in mood, personality, or behaviour
  • Memory loss
  • Loss of balance
  • Loss of vision
  • Impaired hearing
  • Facial paralysis
  • Numbness

DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosing brain lesions is a tricky business. Aside from manifesting multiple symptoms, there are cases where brain lesions do not produce any symptoms in its early stages. Early diagnosis, however, is critical to prevent damage in the long run. 

The best way to diagnose a brain lesion is to undergo a series of imaging tests. CT and MRI scans visualize the lesion and help doctors pinpoint the lesion’s location, size, and nature. You may also need to undergo additional testing, including blood tests, to rule out other causes. 

Your doctor will also need to examine past medical history. By exploring associated symptoms, the nature of the lesion might reveal itself. 

If the benign origin of the lesion does not appear, your doctor will likely recommend further testing to pinpoint the concern. For a specialized examination, you will be referred to a neurologist.

 

TREATMENT

Treating brain lesions is a case-to-case situation, how your doctor proceeds with treatment will depend on the type of brain lesion. However, note that many cases cannot be treated. In this situation, appropriate measures may be taken to improve the quality of life.

Common approaches include the following:

  • Wait-and-see treatment strategies if no serious problems are manifesting
  • Removal of the lesion via surgery
  • Chemotherapy, radiosurgery, radiation therapy, or targeted drug therapy to kill cancerous tumour cells
  • Medication to suppress autoimmune responses
  • Antibiotics or antimicrobial prescription for warding off possible or current infection
  • Post-treatment rehabilitation programs

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