Head injury

Head injuries can occur after a fall, blow to the head, traffic accident, sports injury or other accident. The symptoms may be short-lived, but some people experience lasting symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, memory problems or sensitivity to light and sound.

Acute head injuries should be assessed within the healthcare system. In the event of impaired consciousness, repeated vomiting, seizures, weakness, increasing headache or confusion, you should seek emergency care immediately.

Brain MRI is particularly relevant in non-acute situations when symptoms persist or when the brain needs to be examined further after the acute phase.

A brain MRI may be necessary after a head injury if you have persistent or new neurological problems, such as memory problems, balance problems, vision problems, personality changes, or recurring headaches. The examination may also be considered when previous investigations have not provided a clear answer.

In acute trauma, other routes are often used first, depending on symptoms and suspicion. Computed tomography may be appropriate in acute situations, while MRI is often used more planned when detailed imaging information of brain tissue and nearby structures is needed.

An important part of the assessment is whether the symptoms are new, whether they are recurring, whether they are getting stronger over time, or whether they occur together with other neurological problems. Such information helps the doctor decide whether imaging is warranted and which examination is most appropriate.

Brain MRI can show structural changes in the brain and surrounding tissues. This may include signs of previous or current vascular involvement, inflammatory changes, changes suspected of being a tumor, fluid changes, effects after injury, or other findings that need to be assessed further.

Not all findings indicate serious illness. Some changes are benign, some are age-related, and others need to be followed up or supplemented with other examinations. Therefore, the radiological report and the review with a specialist are an important part of the whole.

Some conditions are better assessed with other methods, such as blood tests, neurological examination, eye examination, acute CT scan or other targeted tests. Therefore, MRI brain should be seen as part of a medical assessment, not as a stand-alone guarantee.

Symptoms after a head injury can be due to a concussion, neck problems, sleep problems, stress reaction, vision problems, vestibular problems or other factors. Not all problems after trauma mean that an MRI will show a clear change.

Nevertheless, MRI can be valuable when symptoms are long-lasting, difficult to explain, or neurological in nature. The results then need to be interpreted in conjunction with the type of injury and the development of symptoms.

It is often the combination of symptoms, time course, age, previous illnesses, medications and findings during clinical examination that determines the next step. MRI can provide important imaging information, but the results always need to be put into context.

Certain neurological symptoms should be assessed urgently and should not wait for a scheduled private MRI scan. This applies in particular to sudden weakness in the face, arm or leg, difficulty speaking, acute confusion, sudden severe headache, seizures, impaired consciousness or rapid deterioration of general condition.

If you experience such symptoms, you should contact emergency care immediately. A planned brain MRI via Prevcare is intended for non-urgent situations where you want to have your brain examined with an MRI and have the results assessed by a radiologist.

You can find the current price and book directly on the MRI brain page . The examination can be booked privately without a referral via Prevcare.

The examination includes imaging with an MRI camera, radiological examination, written report and review with a specialist. If the results show findings that need to be followed up, Prevcare can help you further with a referral if necessary.

If the question does not only concern the brain but you want to examine several parts of the body preventively, a whole-body MRI may be an alternative. However, in cases of clear symptoms from the brain, a targeted brain MRI is often more relevant.