1. An area of abnormally bright signal intensity on a medical imaging scan, particularly in MRI or CT imaging, indicating a region of altered tissue density or composition.
Usage: medical/technical term; commonly used in radiology and neurology

Examples

• The radiologist identified a hyperintensity in the patient's brain MRI that required further investigation.
• White matter hyperintensities are often seen in older adults and may indicate small vessel disease.
• The T2-weighted scan revealed multiple hyperintensities consistent with demyelinating lesions.
• Hyperintensity on diffusion-weighted imaging can suggest acute ischemic stroke.
• The neurologist noted several hyperintensities in the periventricular region.