What it means
An MRI scan is made of several image types, called sequences, and each shows tissues in its own shades of gray. Hyperintense means a spot is brighter than its surroundings on one of them. On T2 images, fluid and swelling look bright. On T1 images, fat, blood that is a few days old and areas that take up contrast dye look bright. CT reports use hyperdense for a similar idea.
When it matters
A hyperintense spot is a description, not a diagnosis. Many are harmless, such as simple cysts, which are very bright on T2 images. Small bright spots in the brain's white matter are also very common, especially with age. The radiologist reads the spot together with the other sequences, its size and shape, and whether it takes up contrast. When the cause is unclear, comparison with older scans or a repeat MRI is common.
Questions to ask your doctor
- On which type of image is the spot bright: T1, T2 or FLAIR?
- Does the brightness suggest fluid, fat, blood or something else?
- Has it changed compared with my older scans?
