ONLY 100 WORDS
Purpose
The purpose of this discussion forum is to to create a collaborative environment in which you can strengthen your use of medical terminology and critical thinking skills while constructively sharing ideas and opinions regarding a medical scenario.
Directions
SCENARIO
Identifying Data:
MRI was performed through the brain, cervical spine, and upper thoracic region.
Scans were generated in the transaxial, sagittal, and coronal (frontal) planes.
MRI Report:
Evaluation of the brain parenchyma demonstrates the presence of multiple areas of abnormal increased signal intensity scattered through the white matter of both cerebral hemispheres. These areas are periventricular in location . The pattern is most compatible with a demyelinative process. Scans through the cervical spine and spinal cord demonstrate no definite areas of abnormal increased or decreased signal within the cord. The discs are intact. Evaluation of the upper thoracic region demonstrates an appearance similar to that of the cervical region.
Note: The image to the left is an example and is not the MRI of this scenario.
1. Using the scenario above, answer the following questions:
A. What is an MRI? Briefly explain how it works.
B. What combining forms indicate the regions of the body imaged?
C. What is the brain parenchyma?
D. From the report, what is a likely diagnosis (Alzheimers, Parkinsons, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Multiple Sclerosis) ? Explain why.
Follow these guidelines when answering the questions:
- Use a maximum of 100 words.
- Be clear, concise and well organized using as many pertinent medical terms as possible.
- Be free of grammatical, mechanical, and format errors.
- Be in your own words (do not copy text directly from a website, text, or other reference materials) and contain citations from all sources used.
Post your answers to the Discussion Board.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
The scenario describes an MRI report of a patient with abnormalities in the white matter of the brain. As a medical professor, it is important to evaluate students’ understanding of medical terminology, critical thinking, and their ability to analyze medical reports. The following are the answers to the questions posed in the scenario:
A. An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is a medical imaging technique that uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to generate detailed images of internal organs and structures in the body. The magnetic field causes the atoms in the body to align, and radio waves are used to make the atoms emit signals that are processed to produce images.
B. The combining forms that indicate the regions of the body imaged in the scenario are “brain,” “cervical,” “spine,” “upper thoracic,” “transaxial,” “sagittal,” and “coronal (frontal).”
C. The brain parenchyma refers to the functional tissue of the brain, responsible for performing the brain’s cognitive functions. It includes the gray matter and the white matter.
D. The likely diagnosis from the MRI report is Multiple Sclerosis (MS). MS is a demyelinating disease that affects the white matter of the brain and spinal cord. The presence of multiple areas of abnormal increased signal intensity scattered through the white matter of both cerebral hemispheres, periventricular in location, and the absence of definite areas of abnormal signal in the spinal cord is most compatible with a diagnosis of MS.
