Brain CT scan

Four months ago, I had a CT scan because of some double vision issues. They found a ring-shaped structure in my fourth ventricle. My neurologist says it’s just a 17mm cyst, but honestly, nobody has given me a straight answer. I'm trying to figure out exactly what this implies and if anyone here has dealt with something similar. Any thoughts on treatment? Note: the double vision isn't related to the cyst... thanks.

The clinical symptoms are headaches.

So, I’ve been dealing with some tinnitus and some issues with my spine lately, which led me to get a few different tests done. One of them was a brain CT, and I’m trying to make sense of this specific part: "high on the convexity, wide sulci are visible, suggesting cerebral atrophy of the cerebrum."
Just for context, I’m in my late thirties. I’d really appreciate any insight or help anyone can give me. Thanks so much in advance!

It’s nothing out of the ordinary—just some initial widening of the spaces between the brain folds due to the natural aging process.
This doesn't hold any clinical significance regarding your symptoms, nor is it likely to trigger anything negative.

I’ve got a CT coming up soon, but I actually had a chest and spine scan about three months ago. Is that enough of a gap to worry about radiation buildup?

Also, can I take something to chill out before the scan? And how long does the actual imaging take?

I was hoping someone might help me make sense of my results. I just had a brain CT scan, and the report says that on the non-contrast MSCT slices, there are no signs of ischemia, hemorrhage, or any visible intracranial mass. The ventricular system is midline and appropriately wide, with no signs of hydrocephalus, and the basal cisterns are clear. It does mention a few tiny calcifications in the right parietal area of the soft tissue of the neck. It suggests further investigation if there are clinical indications.
That last part is what’s really weighing on me.

Hey everyone. A specialist recently ordered an MSCT of my brain and an EEG for me. I’ll post the results here—if anyone with actual expertise can help make sense of this, I’d really appreciate it. Here's what we've got:
MSCT of the brain: Brain parenchyma densities, both infra- and supratentorial, appear normal. No focal lesions were identified. Ventricular structures are midline. There is bilateral enlargement of the lateral ventricles—slightly more pronounced on the left side—in the posterior regions and near the trigone area.

EEG: Occasional slower waves in the theta frequency range appear as subdominant activity over the temporal regions. No convincing asymmetries or paroxysms were noted. The reactivity/blocking response is well-expressed, and there are no changes during US Army maneuvers. The EEG result is borderline.

Richard Campbell56 said:Hey everyone. A specialist recently ordered an MSCT of my brain and an EEG for me. I’ll post the results here—if anyone with actual expertise can help make sense of this, I’d really appreciate it. Here's what we've got:
MSCT of the brain: Brain parenchyma densities, both infra- and supratentorial, appear normal. No focal lesions were identified. Ventricular structures are midline. There is bilateral enlargement of the lateral ventricles—slightly more pronounced on the left side—in the posterior regions and near the trigone area.

EEG: Occasional slower waves in the theta frequency range appear as subdominant activity over the temporal regions. No convincing asymmetries or paroxysms were noted. The reactivity/blocking response is well-expressed, and there are no changes during US Army maneuvers. The EEG result is borderline.

If you don't get any bites here, try checking out the Pfizer forums. They deal with reading these kinds of reports too.🙂

Richard Campbell56 said:Hey everyone. A specialist recently ordered an MSCT of my brain and an EEG for me. I’ll post the results here—if anyone with actual expertise can help make sense of this, I’d really appreciate it. Here's what we've got:
MSCT of the brain: Brain parenchyma densities, both infra- and supratentorial, appear normal. No focal lesions were identified. Ventricular structures are midline. There is bilateral enlargement of the lateral ventricles—slightly more pronounced on the left side—in the posterior regions and near the trigone area.

EEG: Occasional slower waves in the theta frequency range appear as subdominant activity over the temporal regions. No convincing asymmetries or paroxysms were noted. The reactivity/blocking response is well-expressed, and there are no changes during US Army maneuvers. The EEG result is borderline.

Now, looking at these things, you really have to interpret every single finding within the context of the actual clinical picture.
Since I don't have the full story regarding the clinical symptoms (I don't even know exactly why these tests were requested in the first place) or the patient's medical history—you know, current issues, past illnesses, medications, all that—I have to be a little careful about giving a definitive interpretation.

Basically, the brain CT didn't turn up any major pathological changes. That bit about the size and shape of the lateral ventricles is pretty non-specific; it could just be how someone is built, or it could be a sign of something that happened before or is happening now. It’s always a smart move to compare this with a previous CT scan if one exists, just to see if anything is actually changing over time.
As for the EEG, like the conclusion says, it doesn't point directly to a specific pathology, but it doesn't rule it out either.
It definitely makes sense to run the EEG again down the road (I'm guessing the specialist will suggest that too).

So, yeah, there's just not enough data here for a deep dive.

Hey, if you've got a sec, could you help me make sense of my EEG results? 🙂

So, my neurologist just sent me off for a CT scan, and since I’ve never actually been through one before, I’m sitting here wondering if I need to strip down and take off all my jewelry—like, should I be worrying about my earrings or piercings? Thanks!

Does anyone actually know how to read this CT? It says there's some early brain tissue shrinkage visible on both the upper and lower scans, with deeper grooves and wider ventricles sitting right in the middle, though nothing's being pushed out of place. No tumors, bleeding, or strokes showing up.
In the bone area, specifically left frontotemporal between the inner and outer plates, there's an oval sclerotic zone measuring 38x8 mm—could just be a dense patch of insular bone.

Thanks in advance for the help.

I have a question. My dad just had a head CT, and it says the medial structures are mediopositioned. What does that actually mean? Is it something dangerous?

David Kern11 said:I have a question. My dad just had a head CT, and it says the medial structures are mediopositioned. What does that actually mean? Is it something dangerous?

Honestly, if you ask me, this sounds like totally normal stuff.
The radiologist on duty should be back in shortly, so they'll be able to give you a much more precise answer. 😉

Hey everyone!

My mom is 50, and she had a hysterectomy about five years ago.
Back in May, she had a brain CT scan. The results were mostly fine, except they flagged some calcifications. To be exact, here is what the report says: "A 4 mm calcification is present in the lower lateral part of the right occipital region, with no impact on surrounding structures. Small calcifications noted in the wall of the ICA within the siphon area." Then, just a few days ago, she had a mammogram, which showed what they called likely benign calcifications on the left side. I should also mention she’s been dealing with joint pain—both knees, her left shoulder, and her left hand joints—but we haven't actually gone looking for a cause for that yet.

I'm wondering what these calcifications actually mean. Is there any way to shrink them, maybe through diet or something? She’s read in a lot of places that women in her stage of life (given the menopause stuff) are usually advised to take calcium supplements for bone health, so I wanted to ask if that's a good idea given these findings. Could starting calcium supplements actually make those calcifications grow?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Can anyone help me out? Back in late 2009 and early 2010, I dealt with a hemorrhagic stroke followed by an ischemic one...
I finally got my CT results back, but there are a few medical terms here that aren't clicking for me, so if anyone knows what they mean, please let me know.
-chronic ischemic lesion in the right frontotemporal region and basal ganglia, along with significant areas of malacia and gliosis
-lacunar infarct in the left caudate nucleus area
-slight displacement of the ventricular system to the right...
-atrophic changes in the right midbrain associated with Wallerian degeneration (???)
everything else seems pretty straightforward...