Confusion around investigations

weepixie

New member
Aug 19, 2021
4
0
Hi all,

I know someone who has been undergoing a long drawn out memory assessment process.

This has culminated in an assessment with a psychiatrist and a CT scan.

The brain scan report states the conclusion is "no acute intracranial abnormality."

Before that there is a descriptive section about findings, and before that there is a section on "provisional diagnosis."

In the provisional section there's some stuff about lesions etc with question marks.

Does anyone know if that section is what they were looking to prove or disprove with the findings?

I'm confused if to whether the provisional diagnosis is an actual diagnosis, given the findings then follow and don't mention the same thing and the final conclusion seems to suggest all was ok.

Thanks
 

silkiest

Registered User
Feb 9, 2017
865
0
Hi @weepixie,
when the report discusses acute abnormality it is usually for something new and obvious like a bleed or tumour - this does not rule out chronic problems.
When MIL was diagnosed a CT scan showed absolutely nothing whilst the MRI showed the alzheimers. Fast forward 6 years - mums CT showed nothing (ie no vascular dementia) but no MRI was ordered and she was diagnosed with Alzheimers on her symptoms.
You may find you get a diagnosis of alzheimers without further scans if diagnosis of vascular dementia has been ruled out.