Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, is a noninvasive device used for evaluation, assessment and diagnosis of conditions, diseases and injuries. An MRI generates images of the brain and spine from multiple angles, and it also can provide pictures...
Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI for short, is a type of noninvasive imaging procedure that lets a doctor view inside the body. A brain MRI scan may be recommended if a doctor suspects that a patient has some type of brain problem, such as a...
Open MRI offers a clear picture of the soft-tissue structures of the human body. These images are not affected by bones and can be taken from any angle or direction. Some of the common open MRI procedures include scans of blood vessels, the brain,...
Head injuries are dangerous and can be life-threatening. There are two types of head injuries: open (skin ripped open) or closed (no skin broken). Bleeding, skull fractures and injury severe enough to show the tissue of the brain are all "open...
Strokes are the third leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Stroke Association. Strokes occur when blood stops flowing to one part of the brain, according to Medline Plus. They are life-threatening conditions that...
The National Cancer Institute estimates that approximately 22,020 people will be diagnosed with brain cancer in 2010 and that 13,140 of them will die. Brain cancer can be divided into four stages. Stage I is the beginning of the brain cancer, and...
An acoustic neuroma, also called a vestibular schwannoma, is a common non-cancerous brain tumor. It forms on the eighth cranial, or vestibulocochlear, nerve which relays information between the brain and inner ear. While an acoustic neuroma does...
Reye's Syndrome (RS) is a swift-moving disease that usually targets children between the ages of 4 and 12. Most of its victims experience a serious reaction after given aspirin to treat specific viral infections. RS sufferers become ill quickly,...
According to the American Brain Tumor Association, brain cancers occur at any age, but they are more frequent in frequent in children and older adults. This source estimates that for every 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 209...
Stand in front of a full-length mirror, look carefully at both breasts and examine your nipples. It's not necessarily abnormal if one nipple looks different from the other, but be alert for changes in the nipple that are possible signs of a...
A brain abscess occurs as the result of a fungal or bacterial infection. The infection could be in a part of the body close to the brain like the ear or travel through the bloodstream from another part of the body further away. A brain abscess is...
Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI as it is commonly known, is widely used to detect brain disorders. Because of the image quality and sensitivity, MRI is currently the best test to evaluate any abnormalities or disorders within the brain. The...
An aspirin a day is good for your heart if you are an adult. When given to children, however, aspirin can be dangerous, even deadly. This standard pain reliever found in most homes is associated with Reye's syndrome (RS). The uncommon but grave...
Headaches occur commonly for most people, but the sudden onset of a new and severe headache can indicate many serious conditions and should receive medical attention immediately. Those who have frequent headaches, such as migraine sufferers, will...
Many people feel numbness in their hands at some point in their lives. It can be a disturbing sensation, because most of us are aware that such numbness can be, at worst, a sign of serious or even life-threatening illness, such as a stroke,...
Sound waves in the air reach the fluid in the inner ear and are sent as signals to the brain. The inner ear also helps keep a sense of balance. In Meniere's disease, there is a buildup of fluid in the inner ear, which leads to vertigo. A...
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI, can be used to look at brain structure, blood flow, metabolic activity and problems in the brain. MRI can help diagnose brain tumors, infections, hormonal disorders, abnormal brain structure and stroke. It may...
Meniere's syndrome is a condition affecting the inner ear. Symptoms of the syndrome, named after a French physician who first described it, include hearing loss, pain, dizziness and ringing in the ear. The cause of the condition is unknown,...
The number one cause of death for children younger than 2 years old is head trauma, reports John Cowan, Jr., M.D., of the Department of Neurosurgery at the Harbin Clinic, in "Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Surgery." Shaken baby syndrome is due...
A memorable movie line is from the Arnold Schwarzenegger film "Kindergarten Cop", when Schwarzenegger's character complains of a headache and one child suggests he has a tumor. Schwarzenegger replies, "It's not a tumor!" Had the character been...
Found most commonly in adolescent boys, juvenile angiofibromas are uncommon benign nasal tumors located in the nasopharyngeal region (upper nose or at the back of the throat). Juvenile angiofibromas are aggressive and invasive, but usually only...
Brain trauma can be caused by many things, the most obvious being a trauma to the head. Additionally the brain can suffer damage from lack of nutrients to the brain cells, clots loss of blood flow, cancer or hemorrhaging. Even though there are...
If you think you have suffered any kind of neck trauma, no matter how minor it may seem, it is best to see a doctor immediately. Only a physician is qualified to determine the appropriate steps to keep your neck and spinal cord safe. If you are...
An area of fat on the upper back, between the shoulder blades and just below the base of the neck, is referred to as a buffalo hump. An accumulation of fat in this area can be indicative of excess weight or a symptom of a disease.
Magnetic resonance imaging is a test that uses a computer to produce very detailed pictures of body structure to help diagnose various diseases and medical conditions. MRIs are not X-rays and do not use radiation. A serum creatinine is a lab test...
Amyotrophic neuropathy, which is more commonly known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, and is also called Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurological condition that causes progressive nerve dysfunction. This condition typically affects...
Infants who have been exposed to smoked cocaine, or crack, during pregnancy typically show a wide spectrum of symptoms after birth, although it is not uncommon for some infants to be asymptomatic, says the National Institute on Drug Abuse. At...
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain uses powerful magnets and radio waves to produce a detailed picture of the brain and nerve tissues. Because a brain MRI shows details of the blood vessels, the blood flow and the fluids...
A pituitary tumor can cause a disease called acromegaly. People with this disease will not only develop thick bones, but acromegaly can lead to several complications as well. The thickened bones can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. The size of the...
Amnesia is a condition that affects the memory. There are many possible causes for amnesia, and amnesia may occur for different lengths of time. Learn about the symptoms, possible causes, and treatment options for amnesia in this video.