MRI showing mild to moderate chronic ischemic changes, mild frontal leukomalacia. What does it mean? Numbness in the arm
Patient: What does mild to moderate left greater than right pontine chronic ischemic changes, and mild right frontal leukomalacia which is related to chronic small vessel ischemic disease but no acute infarction or mass on MRI really mean. My 65 year old mother has had numbness and decrease in grip in left arm and hand since going to ER Doctor: Hi,  Thank you for posting your query.  MRI brain findings as described, in your mother, are suggestive of decrease in blood supply to certain parts of brain, also referred to as brain stroke.  Her neurological deficits such as numbness and weakness are a result of that.  Treatment would consist of blood thinners such as aspirin, control of risk factors such as high BP and sugars, and physiotherapy.  Please get back if you require any additional information.  Best wishes,  Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) Senior Consultant Neurologist Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, My personal URL on this website:  http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar  My email: drsudhirkumar@yahoo.com