Brain lesions

A brain lesion is an abnormality seen on a brain-imaging test, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a computerized tomography (CT) scan. On CT or MRI scans, brain lesions appear as dark or light spots that don't look like normal brain tissue.

Usually, a brain lesion is an incidental finding unrelated to the condition or symptom that led to the imaging test in the first place.

A brain lesion may involve small to large areas of your brain, and the severity of the underlying condition may range from relatively minor to life-threatening.

If a brain lesion discovered during a brain-imaging test doesn't appear to be from a benign or resolved condition, your doctor will likely seek more information from additional testing or consulting a specialist.
Your doctor may recommend that you see a neurologist for a specialized examination and, possibly, further tests. Even if a neurological work-up doesn't result in a diagnosis, your doctor may recommend continued testing to reach a diagnosis or follow-up imaging tests at regular intervals to monitor the lesion.