Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
close window
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
When to see a doctor
By Mayo Clinic staffIf a brain lesion discovered during a brain-imaging test doesn't appear to be from a benign or resolved condition, your doctor will likely seek more information from additional testing or consulting a specialist.
Your doctor may recommend that you see a neurologist for a specialized examination and, possibly, further tests. Even if a neurological work-up doesn't result in a diagnosis, your doctor may recommend continued testing to reach a diagnosis or follow-up imaging tests at regular intervals to monitor the lesion.
References
- Morris Z, et al. Incidental findings on brain magnetic resonance imaging: Systematic review and meta-analysis. British Medical Journal. 2009;339:b3016.
- Papanikolaou V, et al. Incidental findings on MRI scans of patients presenting with audiovestibular symptoms. BMC Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders. 2010;10:6.
- NINDS acute disseminated encephalitis information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/acute_encephalomyelitis/acute_encephalomyelitis.htm. Accessed Aug. 15, 2011.
- Ropper AH, et al. Disturbances of cerebrospinal fluid and its circulation, including hydrocephalus, pseudotumor cerebri, and low-pressure syndromes. In: Ropper AH, et al. Adams & Victor's Principles of Neurology. 9th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3635132&searchStr=hydrocephalus#3635132. Accessed Aug. 15, 2011.
- Waxman SG. The relationship between neuroanatomy and neurology. In: Waxman SG. Clinical Neuroanatomy. 26th ed. New York, NY.:The McGraw-Hill Companies. 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=5271560. Accessed Aug. 13, 2011.
- Wong ET, et al. Clinical presentation and diagnosis of brain tumors. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 13, 2011.
- Oliveira-Filho J, et al. Neuroimaging of acute ischemic stroke. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 13, 2011.
- Wilkinson JM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 15, 2011.
Share on:
Find Mayo Clinic on