What Causes Slightly Elevated Dots in Brain White Matter?

The occurrence of a small number of punctate elevations in white matter is often caused by congenital development. However, even if it is caused by development, if there are no obvious clinical symptoms, such as intellectual disabilities or sensory disorders in limb movement, no treatment is required. White matter is the area in the brain where nerve fibers congregate. Some people may discover a small number of punctate elevations in white matter during examinations. Elevated punctate signals in white matter are simply changes in demyelination of white matter. Whether treatment is necessary depends on whether there are clinical symptoms. If there are clinical symptoms, active treatment is required. If there are no obvious clinical symptoms, no treatment is needed, and regular follow-up examinations are sufficient.

Small punctate elevations in white matter are often discovered during physical examinations, particularly when undergoing head MRI scans. Patients may have no symptoms or only a history of headaches, and the slightly elevated signals in white matter are discovered during these examinations. The presence of these slightly elevated signals in white matter is considered to be due to demyelination. Clinically, this condition is often seen in middle-aged and young adults with a history of headaches, which is considered to be caused by vascular spasms. In some cases, the condition may be caused by a congenital patent foramen ovale, which allows venous emboli to pass through and stimulate the brain. In these cases, patients may experience severe headaches, and it is recommended that they undergo esophageal ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis and undergo surgical closure of the foramen ovale if necessary.

Small punctate elevations in white matter can also be seen in elderly individuals due to chronic hypoxia of brain cells, leading to demyelination and slightly elevated signal shadows in white matter. These patients may experience symptoms such as dizziness, but the symptoms are usually not severe. It is recommended that patients take medication to improve circulation if necessary. A reduced amount of white matter does not necessarily indicate the presence of cerebral palsy. If you want to obtain a more accurate diagnosis, you can undergo further examinations such as CT and angiography to detect the correct pathology.