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Brain Tumors/Scar tissue on right side of brain
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Question
As a 40 yrs. old, I had a couple of years with awful migraines as I have my C5, C6, and C7 in bad condition on my neck. An accidental MRI gave an indication that I had a stroke. I consulted another neurologist and he did another MRI. He concluded that I had lots of scar tissue on right side of my brain and gave a diagnosis of Occipital Neuralgia. I am still concerned about the scar tissue that appeared for no reason on the right side. Do we have always some scar tissue inside the brain? What does it mean? Is there a probability for the scar tissue to harden or turn into something malignant. I am just always concern about it.
Brenda:
I'm so sorry to hear about what you're going through. To answer your questions, no we do not always have scar tissue inside our brains. Its presence indicates some form (mild or extensive) of damage. Its cause, though, can only be determined by testing performed by your doctor. It sounds like your doctor has already attempted to ascertain the cause of the scar tissue formation in your case (i.e. a stroke causing sufficient damage to create it).
Scar tissue does not become "hard" as one may believe. Or they may imagine that it turns calcified so-to-speak over time. The term "hard" is a pejorative one that some may believe that it becomes "rock like" in consistency. This is not true. As far as it transforming into something more ominous is also not something to be concerned with. The formation of scar tissue simply means the glial cells in the brain have divided to form a "protective" layer or section. Neurons, though, damaged by injury or disease can not reproduce but sometimes can be healed or repaired.
In essence, scar tissue in the brain is controlled division of glial cells to form only scar tissue near or surrounding a damaged section of the brain. Cancers or other malignancies are identified by their uncontrolled division or formation and their propensity to invade or metastasize to other locations within the body.
I hope this answers your question Brenda, and if you have any others please don't hesitate to ask.
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Jeremy Oldham
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I am a two-time survivor of brain cancer. At ages 11 and 23 I was diagnosed with Low Grade Astrocytomas. This was the motivation I needed to devote my time and effort to studying and researching this disease to help others have the same success I did. Because the questions I have asked over the years, are questions you may ask also, and the credible answers I received are answers you may need as well.
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