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 diseases of GM. 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.
According to the nature of the root cause, the pathology is divided into diffuse and focal lesions of the brain. The first are characterized by homogeneity. Usually, pathologies develop gradually, spreading to all living cells. A similar phenomenon can be observed with circulatory disorders, TBI, 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 contour, drowsiness, the functioning of the sense organs is disrupted, and performance decreases.
It is impossible to make an accurate diagnosis based on the clinical picture, the patient's complaints. To determine the type of lesion, it is necessary to undergo a diagnosis. The most informative methodcomputed tomography.
Clinical picture
A variety of symptoms can indicate focal lesions in the brain.
- Headaches. Most often they appear suddenly, for no apparent reason. They are intense, migraine-like. The pain may be around or localized to one or both sides of the brain.
- Blood pressure rises. With a focal lesion, an increase in blood pressure indicates that the body is trying to compensate for the lack of nutrition that occurred due to degeneration of the brain vessels.
- There is a violation of hearing, vision, coordination of movement.
- Memory deteriorates, fatigue increases, weakness appears.
- There is nausea, vomiting that does not bring relief.
- Fascos.
- Tremor of the limbs, convulsions, in some cases paralysis.
- Loss of reflexes.
- Impaired breathing.
- People are concerned about psycho-emotional disorders, stress, irritability increases.
Epileptic seizures, strokes can be observed, which directly indicate the presence of focal brain damage. All of these symptoms may or may not appear at all.
Any clinical signs of the disease are associated with neurology, since focal lesions affect the nerve tissue, which causes changes in the autonomic function.
Reasons for the defeat of GM
Local lesions cancaused by a variety of reasons.
In focal lesions of the brain of a dyscirculatory nature, the cause may be a lack of nutrient intake caused by circulatory disorders (with IB, stroke and other pathologies). Often the cause of the disease is a neoplasm. It has a negative effect on neighboring areas of the brain, causing various changes in them, up to the death of GM cells.
What else causes illness?
Focal pathologies can be caused by traumatic brain injuries, hematomas, edema.
Also, the development of lesions can lead to:
- Pathologies 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 damage to the brain appear.
- Fractures of the cervical spine. Within the neck are two large vessels. When fractured, they can be damaged (torn, squeezed). Violation of blood flow in the cervical region leads to inhibited blood supply to the brain. As a result, the cells suffer from a lack of oxygen and nutrients.
- Overweight. This reason is considered secondary. Obesity can lead to brain dysfunction. Obesity with lack of physical activity is especially dangerous.
- Atherosclerosis. With this pathology, cholesterol plaques form in the vessels. They clog the lumen of the vascular bed, which leads to a lacknutrient intake.
- Endocrine pathologies.
Diagnosis
To reveal the pathological changes occurring in the GM, magnetic resonance imaging is performed. This is the only way to find out what exactly is happening under the skull, to see all the unfavorable processes in the structure of the brain, to assess the possible consequences and to make the most accurate forecast for 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 he althy brain. On them, almost all lesions look like light spots of various sizes.
In addition, magnetic resonance imaging helps to accurately determine the number of lesions. 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 development of the focus, as well as take measures to eliminate the causes of damage to the brain.
Multiple defeats
Patients with multiple lesions deserve special attention. They are a sign of a serious pathology and can even serve as a symptom of a brain tumor. In the early stages, such diseases can only be detected after an MRI.
If necessary, conduct studies of blood vesselsordered MRI with contrast. As a result of the injection of a contrast agent, the blood turns into a different color, which is reflected in special shades on the 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 is 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 multiple 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 illnesses. But with growth, the work of neurons 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 disease is a cyst (a small cavity with liquid contents). For a long time, the cavities do not make themselves felt until they begin 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 cause pressurevessels, which complicates the flow of blood to the brain.
Lesions are observed in necrosis. As a result of any past infections or other diseases, parts of the brain cells die 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, blows. Such types of foci lead to changes in the composition of matter.
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 characteristics of treatment. 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 disease.
In a comprehensive treatment regimen, the doctor may include vitamins, painkillers, sedatives and other drugs. Soothing baths, physiotherapy, lifestyle changes play an important role.
