How to treat microvascular ischemic disease?
Patient: I am a 60 year old male, 5'9" tall, 155 lbs. Only significant history is a diagnosis of prostate cancer, believed contained to the prostate at this time. Seeing a doctor for ringing in the left ear, recently had a MRI to check for tumors/irregularities of the ear canal. The MRI report reads, in part,"Axial T2 and flair sequences demonstrate small punctuate T2 and flair hyperintense lesions within the deep white matter bilaterally.  This likely represents microvascular ischemic disease. Everything else in the report appears normal, I think. They did administer contrast and identified no abnormal areas of enhancement. The reading doctor's impressions are: 1. Small punctuate T2 and flair hyperintense lesions demonstrated within the deep white matter bilaterally. These likely represent small foci of microvascular ischemic disease. No confluent signal change suggestive of mass lesions or infarct is identified. 2. No abnormal areas of enhancement are seen.No mass lesions are identified.3. Grossly normal internal auditory canals. No mass lesion is seen. No abnormal fluid collections are present. I realize this is probably good news as far as the ear problem, but I'm a bit concerned with the microvascular ischemic disease part. Your opinion will be appreciated. Doctor: Hi,Thanks for writing in.Microvascular ischemic disease is a common condition found after 60 years of age. It happens due to the mildly decreased blood flow to areas of the brain. This is not a serious condition and more like an aging change and seen early in people who are having diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension.Observing a healthy lifestyle and eating a nutritious diet helps prevent progress of this condition. Please take vitamin B12 supplements and this is a neuroprotective medicine. It will help in growth of damages nerves. Please do not worry.