Midline shift
Read Your Scan Editorial Team·Last updated
Written from published radiology references and reviewed for plain language. Not written or signed by a physician, and not a diagnosis. How we write these pages →
In plain language
The structures that normally sit in the middle of the brain have been pushed to one side. Radiologists measure it in millimetres because the amount matters, and it is reported promptly when present.
Where you’ll see this
Head CT and brain MRI reports, in the findings and the impression.
Questions worth asking your doctor
- How many millimetres, and is that enough to be causing my symptoms?
- What is doing the pushing?
- Does this need treating today, or watching?
How a finding is described
Where this word comes up
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Read Your Scan is informational only — not a medical diagnosis, and not a substitute for a licensed radiologist or your doctor. If you have urgent symptoms, seek care.