How to read an MRI of the brain | First Look MRI

Dr. Brian Gay provides an easy to understand explanation of an MRI brain scan and how to read it.
First Look MRI can provide a video report created by our experienced radiologists using lay terms so you can understand the findings.

[@anomalyp8584]

brains looking at brains...that is such a weird realisation.

[@user-fn7tk4eq8z]

XD

[@default2591]

It gave me existential crisis

[@jonathanp.9633]

same thing looking into a mirror

[@pixiehigh13]

🤣

[@CHRISRepAZ]

😂👍

[@LaidBackLora]

Coming from someone who never had but a few headaches ever,I developed massive killer nausea headaches about 4 months ago.I am thanking God after asking for a MRI on my brain the results are completely normal.Stress can do a number on us but God is so good and im so blessed

[@lizgarza6245]

I hope this is my outcome! God bless

[@ingevonschneider5100]

How is God good? Because you are healthy? Others have brain tumors and die.

[@LaidBackLora]

@@lizgarza6245 i hope so hun ❤️

[@LaidBackLora]

@@ingevonschneider5100 no i praise God on my worse days!! My health is not 💯 like every one elses ain't.And ive worked my butt off to get to where i am today and I'll leave it at that. thanks

[@LaidBackLora]

and btw, ive always prayed for others above me. you don't know me I can tell that much

[@fayeart5277]

I found out I had four brain aneurysms by MRI, two of which were clipped that required invasive brain surgery. I've had several CT scans and angiogram's. My neurosurgeon always shows and explains the images similar to this video. It makes a world of difference understanding what I'm seeing. I think every surgeon should share image's with their patients. Sincere thank's for doing this video, well done.

[@pegs1659]

Thank God they were found!

[@fayeart5277]

@@pegs1659 yes, I humbly thank God, an excellent neurosurgeon and my family for all their support and ~ Thank you for your comment.

[@piterce2933]

what were the symptoms i know aneurysm are caused by high blood pressure

[@fayeart5277]

@@piterce2933 normally you don't have symptoms but, mine were very large 8.7 and 9 mm which caused them to interfere with brain tissue and nerves. Those symptoms were headaches like nothing I ever experienced before, weakness, vomiting, blurred vision. My neurosurgeon suspected a leak.

[@fayeart5277]

@@user-cw5yr5ew8o yes, the clipping requires open surgery so, last year I had a pterional approach craniotomy. Not an easy surgery to go through but, life saving for sure.

[@dr.gayfirstlookmri]

It is truly amazing that this technology is available allowing us to see inside the body with no ionizing radiation. Just electromagnetic fields.

[@jschanna]

Absolutely! EM fields and RF :)

[@raider7829]

Yes. It's amazing technology. Thank you. Very informative. I have an MRI in a few days. A dentist thinks hes seen a mass located in sinus area, on 3D CBCT scan. I work in dental so it's a bit ironic. I have zero symptoms so I'm hoping its nothing.

[@youserguide]

What Tesla is used on these images? I had the recent experience of having a 3T MRI (130 miles away) to compare my MS lesions with my standard 1.5T My lesion load exploded by at least 10, and my cervical stenosis upgraded to Serious.

[@ahadadil786]

Your video is amazing, I wish I could see this video again with labels on diagrams for easy remembering

[@Yottabee]

@@youserguide I'm sorry to hear your lesion load increased (I have MS, too) and that you've got cervical stenosis. I recently had a 3T scan, too. Be well.

[@avihudekel4709]

The things you learn when wondering around KZbin. Truly remarkable! Thank you!

[@YehoshuaD]

I had a stroke in 2018 and when in the hospital the doctor was talking to my wife about what happened exactly and what areas were effected. She knew about the different parts of the brain having learned psychology in University during that time (during a biology class or something problem.) So in the middle she asked questions and said "oh, so that's why this or that was effected". One of the nurses in the room said "whoa, how did you know that, are you a nurse?" .. Just a cute story I remember....

[@Dutch3DMaster]

Imagine already having that response from doctors in some cases and I then just say "Biology was my favorite subject in high school, so I payed good attention luckily", and then to hear doctors "Oh that saves me time for not having to explain X or Y then".

[@kathylebro1359]

I just had a shunt placed for hydrocephalus and a crainiotomy for an acoustic neuroma resection in June and August. These were fascinating, as I could see on thd MRI some areas my neurosurgeons talked about. Thank you!

[@tondriasanders6306]

Thanks for this video. My 11 year old has to have a brain scan and this video helped ease some of her anxiety. Knowing what it's all about has given her power.

[@rfrolicarts]

Hope your kid is OK 🙏

[@Dutch3DMaster]

Hope she has been OK ever since. I was the same age when I had one to look for my epilepsy. While not exceptional, the machines have gotten a bit more silent and slightly less intimidating looking compared to when I had mine (back in 1999 or 2000) and a bit more friendly looking, so I hoped that also helped ease her mind a bit. If she had a good person manning the scanner this person kept her up to date continuously, like they did with mine, I could even listen to the radio (not that you heard that thing except during the treatment pauses because of how deafeningly loud the machine was, which at that time was also a big box with sharp edges and corners with a relatively tiny hole in it, which, compared to the slightly smaller, more curvy and friendlier looking machines of today might contribute to a bit less stress).

[@farimb2380]

Quick, easy and very clear, thank you! Just what I need before an exam

[@batman-sr2px]

is soft tissue MRI the same as a muscle MRI?

[@mihaimoldo]

@@batman-sr2px all of them are soft tissue MRIs . The difference between the examinations are what protocols are used, what tissue you want to see and which you need to suppress in order to see the first better .

[@dogloverjb6873]

the human body is truly amazing and priceless. We only get one in our lifetime...treat it like it is priceless

[@KD-kp3zc]

Excellent video, clear and concise. Thank you!

[@mattmcrae88]

This was very interesting. Thank you.

[@roselevass3402]

Very interesting! Thanks for making it so simple to understand

[@karishmadeegan8297]

Beautifully explained. Thank you

[@petesky79]

thank you for your videos Dr Gay, as a radiographer learning MRI your videos are a great help.

[@mattcasdorph]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video!!

[@RosenbaumGroupCRO]

One of the best explanations on MRI reading this helped me a lot to understand ow to read MRI

[@AliceKillercat]

I just had an MRI of my brain and this was really interesting :D

[@bluesquirrel2472]

you ok?

[@AliceKillercat]

@@bluesquirrel2472 Thank you for asking! Yes, thankfully everything was fine. I have trouble with auditory processing and my doc wanted to check for tumors who could cause this. Now I still don't know why I have the problems but at least it's nothing serious

[@chips.3927]

@@AliceKillercat I've also went through my MRI, the doctor announces that nothing is wrong with my brain, only my slanted tooth inflicts the headache.

[@piousmutilator4513]

Same!

[@saisharathgoud9738]

@@AliceKillercat with contrast or without contrast...which one was done to u

[@preachousity]

Thank you - I was able to follow along with the images from my MRI. Very helpful!

[@bettysmith4527]

Wow, thanks for the video, I had no idea you could see so many other structures as well as the brain!!

[@renee6868]

These are amazingly helpful 👌 thanks 😊 🙏 Can I request you show one on a patient with iih as we are often given the run around on our condition, because even some specialists don't understand or take time to explain the disease. I have congenital hypoplastic right transverse sinus and severe stenosis of the distal left transverse sinus and Prominent csf spaces around optic nerves and partially empty sella....but no one shows you or explains that in lamens terms...THANKS!

[@drgadham]

Excellent teaching presentation 👍

[@DavidRivera-mr6pi]

you helped me understand why i have my ms diagnosis and issues. thank you

[@oggythebilla4122]

Thank you so much for the information 😊

[@TROllingNINJA2031]

Very cool! I just had a full contrast done. Like being in a space ship

[@SurajKumar-qi7mq]

This video is very informative..plz make videos like this Sir🙏

[@Urawizardharryy]

Thank you so much this was so helpful

[@Andrea-ps3mc]

Brilliant. Thank you.

[@manalc7370]

Thank you for this very interesting video! Can you please add the option "Add subtitles" so we can help make this content available for everybody? Thanks again :)

[@lovme2x]

Very good. Have you posted an MRA OF the COW. I would love to see some more in-depth brain readings/ explanations.

[@hawraanadher4894]

excellent explanation made it so easy for me👍🏻♥️

[@nidhithakur5479]

fascinating beyond words

[@santeemoontazdigpaul7495]

Thanks so much for reading this MRI

[@kevinsidhu78]

Thank you for the wonderful tour 🧠

[@dr.gayfirstlookmri]

My pleasure!

[@adalovelac24]

thank you sir this is really helpful

[@ruiyang2287]

This is soooo good. Thank you

[@staycalm.]

Thank you hopefully it helps me better understand what i am told about mine.

[@healthyfeelsbetter]

thank you for this !

[@margaretskinner6972]

I cant help but made a picture of a person or something out of each shot! Amazing brain we have!

[@MAledish]

Out of curiosity, if there are any large lesions on the basil ganglia is the neurologist supposed to include it in their report?

[@britishgal1808-Sue]

Very cool and well presented.

[@alikhan-pj8qv]

Thank you soooo much for thissss!!😭💘💘💘

[@maxrules2161]

Thank you, this was really helpful, how can I tell the right part of the brain from the left one on MRI?

[@StayPositive-sd8op]

These are very helpful videos. I have a shunt for hydrocephalus and had it advised 5 times. I used to ask for copays of the NRI'S but I didnt know what they meant

[@bondiib4823]

lol copies

[@petersydney6303]

Brilliant . Thanks 👍😀

[@lastofthesarcastic7682]

Hey can I ask you a few questions about certain mri scans I have

[@matthewviens7723]

What mri sequence was this image? T1-weighted, t2-weighted, etc.?

[@MandySky]

How old was this patient, if you don't mind me asking? And is it typical for an MRI report to be 1 paragraph long and for scans that look to be suspect, largely ignored? Any information would be helpful :) Love the video!

[@adalovelac24]

is there any software can read brain MRI and diagnose the disease and write the report to help the radiologist ?? if no how much time it takes from a radiologist to write the report

[@aprilviolette8140]

Would you do video on small focus encephalomalacia? What would cause it? What it looks like on an MRI?

[@dantesinferno1258]

I am on route to a brain MRI, thank you very much!

[@michaelablocker3721]

Good luck!

[@nagendraprad]

Thank u .its was too good

[@StayPositive-sd8op]

Could all the times my shunt valve that needed replaced in the head cause memory problems, and any mental conditions

[@el-hp1lj]

going for brain mri next week. 42 year old in shape male. headaches on and off all my life. This last year major migraines and intense vomitting. Missing lots of work and life

[@user-ft5wb3ql2o]

Correct me if I'm wrong but watching this video I've been doing a lot of study on MRIs and tapeworms as I have movement throughout my head in this video shown on the left ear region appears to be a ring-enhancing liaison and other signs of a tapeworm this does not appear as normal to me and other mri's I have studied however I had seen similar on mind having the tapeworm infection just thought id say and ask would be nice if I could get a reply in regards to it and if this maybe right

[@CB-fg7zy]

Thank you!!

[@GCM-wl3kr]

Great video! How about some more orbital imaging?

[@bluesquirrel2472]

thank you!

[@sunving]

thanks Doctor

[@me9860]

That was very cool! Thank you

[@ramonasosna]

I have an MRI coming up cause I have really bad memory and tremors, I am worried but I'm sure I'm going to be fine, I am watching this cause I want to look at my brain after to make sure that there are no issues cause the doctors might miss it 🤔🤍🖤

[@Rohityadav-tj2bz]

How did your report come !! As per me you might be having b12 defiency.

[@jorgemontes6728]

Thank you

[@omareliotorrescastillo4808]

Hello, thanks for the video, is it possible using a High Resolution MRI scanner counts the number of neurons in different portion of brain? or this scanner has no microscopic resolution

[@Dutch3DMaster]

I don't think they are that sensitive or precise, even though technology has progressed obviously.

[@darrellr267]

Will it show if you have a csf brain fluid leak?

[@dr.gayfirstlookmri]

There are many different sequences. On some, flowing blood is white and fluid is black, and on other sequences, it is the reverse. On some sequences, both are black.

[@hannahmccoy8336]

I was actually about to post a comment asking what type of scan this was so can compare with mine.

[@sabaaliabadi1492]

I love it 🧠

[@xandosworld]

I just got my mri on disc & I was like what is all of this ? Why would they give me this 😂

[@unclefreddy2009]

When you have one of these ordered by a doc for a specific purpose (asymmetry in my hearing) does the radiologist look at all of this to spot any incidental findings ?

[@Dutch3DMaster]

Probably, yes. They might look for signs of the little bones that send the message from your eardrum to the cochlea fusing together due to some kind of illness, and thus limiting your hearing that way, or they might be able to spot contaminents in the cochlea that should not be there, or responses to sound being processed different left through right. The brain is cross-connected: right-ear monitoring is done by the left side and vice-versa, which allows us to determine the position of sound, so there can be a lot of cross-communication between the parts of the brain. In can still recall having some kind of test performed around my epilepsy that showed that both my brain halves were very active in trying to solve problems, whereas it is (or was, it's been more than 24 years a go) more common to see a shift and have one of two sides be a bit more dominant.

[@SusanRichardsDay]

Thank you so much for doing this . Does anyone know where I could get a second opinion of 2 brain mri's 4 years apart to assess progress ?

[@Dutch3DMaster]

If you haven't found a source already: I am afraid this will heavily depend on the country you are in. I'm in The Netherlands myself and second opinions are a basic part of coverage in mandatory health care insurance, so it's basically as simple as asking for one, getting the letter, and phoning the other doctor (or maybe your doctor asks the other doctor, with all the electronic files these days I'm not sure what the procedure is). The time I did one I basically got the piece of my file that was important for the other doctor, and phoned the hospital the doctor I wanted to see worked in and got an appointment there, which resulted in the same procedure (biopsy of the stomach and first part of the intestines) being repeated, simply because they wanted to be sure. That also made me learn that that procedure could be done without feeling pain, which gave the nurses at my bed, when I mentioned that right after the procedure a look of horror on their face, with them asking when the time happened that I felt pain during that procedure, and I explained it happened in my local hospital with the doctor doing the procedure there waving away my complaint by saying "You can't feel pain there", and one of the nurses blurted out "Good god!!! What age is that man from? The Medieval times?! OF COURSE you can feel pain there....Jesus Christ that those people still exist these days!" Which well, gave me a feeling of reassurance that was nice to also have after the procedure.

[@1million981]

Helpful

[@soba4929]

Today am going for a MRI and hoping everything is ok, i constantly feel sick, throw up and bad migraines

[@LDOG15]

What would you do if the dural venous sinus was bright white?

[@RoadRunnerMeep]

Brain scans look so interesting and disturbing at the same time

[@genx6619]

Hi doctor...Can occipital bone be captured in brain mri?

[@codycotner4171]

If there was any kind of bulge (unruptured aneurysm) in a blood vessel would a conventional contrast enhanced MRI like this be able to see it?

[@DandLwelcomehome]

did you ever get your question answered from anyone else?

[@wandasanders2003]

Thanks

[@dortevrgdth5401]

Dr gay i love you

[@nghiavu1513]

How is this mri so clear? I got a brain mri on a 3t and it’s not this clear?

[@allenculbertson8170]

Thank U

[@will54981]

3:01 I mean I'm no doctor, nurse or surgeon here and certainly don't have any experience in medical imaging but wouldn't that be the left eye near the left side of the screen, if it's a top-down MRI scan?

[@kirsten9729]

The scan is take from the feet up, but he is scrolling backwards through the images making it appear as though the scan is "top down" as he said. Medical imaging is basically all viewed from the physicians standpoint aka opposite the patient. It's very confusing.

[@Uramledtube]

Hi..I’m an MD… (not a radiologist tho)… I don’t know the reason but when looking at MRIs…. It is like i you are looking from the bottom up….. So, the R side ends up on the pictures Left side (with your nose/face looking at top of picture)

[@BeMyself2511]

2:23 interesting. There is letter 'pi' on the left of the figure, and 'm' on the right. :D

[@budgetchrollo37]

Nice catch

[@mazklassa9338]

Do you offer reviews/analysis of MRI scans from folks here in the comments section?

[@bondiib4823]

Hi any chance you could take a look at my recent scans? They were taken because of migraine. Neurologist said everythings fine 3 months ago and prescribed inderal. I have an appointment soon to see how I respond to inderal and Ill say it makes me caugh a lot and causes nightmares which I already had thanks to zyrtect but now its worse. On his report he wrote and this is translation from Dutch, hope I didnt change context, he wrote 2 white tissue injuries, what does that mean? Think you could find it on the scan? I want to know if its where my pain is, right side of my head behind the eye area. Sometimes its not just headache, its pain like a bruise, when I shake yes or no I can feel like theres a bruise in my head. When I lay down on right side the pressure will press on the pain spot. Mostly the next day its over. I think migraines started around the time when I had to start taking lytenyl against endometriosis. Got 2 cysts, one is 4.8 cm on right ovarium.

[@Millenialsbudget]

Was it multiple sclerosis?

[@bondiib4823]

I have no idea, he never explained it. I think a lot of my issues are caused by terrible eating habits and obesity+stress (female 89 kilo's, I lost 10 kilo's since last year tho). Also, it's funny that you ask that exaclty a day after a weird pain in my right underleg appeard, like someone is giving it electric shocks and I lose feeling in my right underleg and have to hold onto something because I might fall over. Will go see my doc if I find time, got sinisitis, headache and muscle aches atm too.@@Millenialsbudget

[@rockapedra1130]

Thanks! I really appreciate you sharing a small part of your knowledge with us! The brain fascinates me to no end. A few pounds of fatty meat that contains the universe.

[@monikakamboz4676]

Sir plz tell what is Midline shifting and how long it's treatment can be? Is it life threatening or curable?

[@farimb2380]

Hydrocephalus can push it to 1 side I think, a contusion of the brain can cause that, I think it's dangerous because if the bigger intracranial pressure, so the pressure would be surgically removed by removing the fluid, with maybe a craniectomy I hope I wrote it correctly in English

[@nadiamihova3912]

My 12 year old daughter has been having headaches every day for over 3 months now and her MRI shows something white where her right sphenoid sinus is and the radiologist described it as just "fluid in the right sphenoid sinus" and didn't think it was the cause for her headaches. But after watching this, I think it might be. She just had an MRI with contrast done as well and it shows the same white area on the right side but not on the left. The sinuses are supposed to look black, right? What if there's a cyst or even a tumour there? Our neurologist is not taking this seriously and just tries to push all different types of migraine medications onto her without even knowing the cause for her headaches. I had to really push to try and get extra scans and blood tests done for my daughter. I really don't know what to do next. Please help me!

[@bobwilson5041]

Can anyone give advise,had a pop in my head one month ago,no symtoms at all,just the pop sound,now though i have a stiff neck

[@EX0t1C]

Humans really are beautiful

[@TroubleActual]

Had my 1st MRI last week. 6mm cyst next to pituitary. I know there's no definitive answer but what does it possibly mean?

[@Dutch3DMaster]

It can go 2, and basically 3 ways (I've been screened for them through blood testing and it hasn't yet revealed anything worrying that warrants an MRI): 1. The best kind, you don't notice anything, and you need to get some regular checkups to see if it's benign (doesn't mean it doesn't grow and become a problem that way) or not. From what I once understood from an endocrinologist it's that there can actually be quite a number of people who have such a deviation near the pituitary or on the pituitary gland without them ever being none the wiser. 2. You notice a problem that might not necessarily be negative, but can become problematic 3. You notice problems that are primarily negative. The pituitary gland regulates a LOT of hormones in your body, so a tumor or cyst there can deregulate the endocrine system of your body. In some people it results in problems with their digestive system because of how certain electrolyte levels can be regulated through it because of how the pituitary gland can secrete a signalling hormone for the liver to respond to. Some people because of this become either insatiable when it comes to eating, or experience being easier full during a meal. Then there's also the way it regulates the dominant sex hormone in your body, along with the hypothalamus, by signalling the reproductive organs to make this hormone, and another hormone instructing the thyroid along with the liver to break the hormone down after it has had it's way through your body. It can increase or decrease the receptor count for said hormone(s) (It is obviously much more complicated than I make it sound here). I for instance, was screened when I was much younger because there were concerns I wasn't entering puberty because of having an overactive thyroid breaking down the signalling hormones for the reproductive organs prematurely, halting my body's growth. And the suspicion for that hyperthyroidism wasn't exactly a random one: I could eat tons of food without gaining weight, and bursted with energy, while staying exceptionally slim and short... Slight edit: The reason I hold this knowledge is because I take a drug that at much higher dosages than I take it now and for much longer than I have taken it at the higher dosage in the past, is known to cause benign tumors on or near the pituitary gland. That same drug is one my body probably really likes because of a different effect it also has, because without the drug, my body completely derailed hormonally and I could eat unlimited amounts of food: not because my stomach was processing the food like crazy, but because while my eyes visually witnessed me eating a lot of food, my stomach didn't really send the signal of being satiated, I kept having the feeling of wanting to eat more, it was awful.

[@r.j.k.7925]

Is the image somehow flipped? 3:00 while pointing with a cursor on the left eye you tell it is the right one and vice versa..? Am I missing something?

[@Dutch3DMaster]

Not sure if I remember it correctly, but I think with a scan like that going down towards the neck, I think the orientation needs to be seen looking from the feet towards the head, not from the top of the head down. So if you look at the patient from there, it is correct.

[@danyelPitmon]

Do you have an MRI imaging of somebody’s brain who has migraines and low cerebral fluid level I would love to see that compared to my own problems

[@adarshd.koyani6845]

sir can you tell me all is normal but still there is a movement disorder whats the reason is?

[@equinox6944]

Should I be concerned about the contrast agent gadolinium? I’m really worried about residual gadolinium being left in my body... would really appreciate your view on this. Thankyou in advance

[@bprgmd]

They do not know for sure if there will be any problems with contrast long term. They have discovered that small amounts of contrast stay in your body even if you are a healthy person with no impaired renal function, so the medical community is exercising caution just in case some day it is found to cause some issue. It is doubtful that there will be any significant ill effects since so many people have had contrast for so many years now, but as you know, anything is possible. Therefore, contrast may not recommended unless you really need it. Then, the benefit would far outweigh any possible risk. If you have already had it, again, it is very unlikely that you will ever have a problem related to it so I would not worry about it.

[@equinox6944]

Brian Gay Thankyou so much for your detailed response, I really appreciate that. I feel under the circumstances I don’t really have a choice, I will have to do this test with contrast, hopefully it will be ok :)

[@wouter.d.h.]

@@bprgmd Do u know the minimum detectable tumorsize on a normal Mri without contrast?I heard 5 mm but not sure

[@brendanerie1664]

Was this with contrast or no contrast?

[@18stmaniac63]

seems like with contrast

[@ashleyy-gx5fr]

Can anyone please tell me if a brain mri without contrast will show a bulge in blood vessels? Like a unruptured artery? Plz answer

[@TheDavveponken]

The images I got from my MRI look very different. I can't even compare the them with this as they look so little alike. At 4:12 for instance. Whereas you have a lot of brain matter visible in this I don't, It's pretty much all black around the vessels you point out, there's no way of differentiating them. Any ideas?

[@kennethmcclain3907]

So, when someone has an MRI of the brain, you don't pay attention to anything in their neck/cervical spine? I was diagnosed with Horner's Syndrome a couple weeks ago and I had a chest CT with contrast, an MRI of my brain, and an MRA of my head & neck. All tests came back normal with no signs of tumors of stroke...so they can't figure out what is disrupting my sympathetic nerve that goes down my cervical spine, over the apex of the lung, and back up and behind the eye. I was under the impression than an MRI of the brain is the same thing as an MRI of the head (which I thought also showed the neck). If that's not the case, maybe I need to get an MRI of my neck done.

[@Islandman776]

Yes you should

[@paigedavis6330]

Can you show an MRI with tonsillar ectopia (chiari malformation)

[@oggythebilla4122]

Please put a class about preparation of MRI basic

[@jitendarbangasop6848]

Meri beti ke 4year age me koi dhatu magnisum jm gya he brain me