Brain lesions are areas of brain tissue that show damage from injury or disease. The cause of a brain lesion can vary depending on the type, location, and size of the lesion. Some common causes of brain lesions include:

• Brain tumors: These are clumps of cells that grow abnormally from normal tissue. Some tumors in the brain are noncancerous, or benign. Others are cancerous.

• Injury or trauma: Brain lesions can develop due to traumatic brain injury or some other type of trauma to the head. Examples include hematomas and intracerebral hemorrhage.

• Infection: Lesions can be caused by a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection, such as meningitis.

• Autoimmune disorders: Some autoimmune disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, can cause brain lesions.

• Vascular abnormalities: Examples of vascular lesions include aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations (AVM), and stroke.

• Congenital disorders: Some brain lesions are caused by congenital disorders, which are conditions that a person has at birth.

The symptoms of a brain lesion can vary depending on the type, location, and size of the lesion. Some common symptoms include headache, change in vision or eye pain, loss of memory, confusion, nausea, seizures, and changes in mood, personality, and behavior. The most common way to detect brain lesions is with diagnostic imaging scans. Depending on the cause, some types of brain lesions will heal on their own or are treatable, while others are permanent or happen for reasons that can’t be treated or cured.