Brain lesion: What does it mean?
An MRI revealed that I have a brain lesion, which requires further evaluation. What does the term "lesion" mean? Is it cancer?
- No name / No state given
Mayo Clinic neurologist Jerry Swanson, M.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.
Answer
A brain lesion is an area of brain tissue that appears abnormal. In the case of an MRI scan, a lesion is an area that doesn't appear normal on the image. However, the meaning of the term "lesion" in this context is unclear.
In some cases, the characteristics of a lesion seen on MRI aren't specific enough to allow the doctor to make a definite diagnosis. When this occurs, additional evaluation may be needed to determine the cause and significance of the lesion.
Potential causes of a brain lesion include:
- Stroke
- Cancerous and noncancerous brain tumors
- Abnormal connection between blood vessels in the brain (arteriovenous malformations)
- Multiple sclerosis
- Brain injury
- Congenital brain anomalies, such as hydrocephalus
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