White areas in Brain on MRI

On all of my MRI reports, there has been mention of scattered "white areas" in my brain.  They apparently haven't changed from one MRI to the next...What are these?

[jvilletina2]

My latest MRI show "moderate foci of abnormal T2 and FLAIR signal in the periventricular and subcortial white matter. Largest measures 7mm and there at least 10 lesions".
Turns out there were seen on all 3 of my MRIs (one pre surgery, 2 post) but no one mentioned them ... my NS basically blew me off when I brought it up recently.
From my internet research I've learnt that they are most likely caused from migraines. No way to prove it though.
If your MRI also says "no enhancing or diffusion positive lesions are seen" I believe this means it does not look like MS.
I have a Chiari friend with an almost identical MRI report also ...

[*Stormy*]

Hello,

I have read on here that sometimes the white matter on your brain can be damage from having constant migraines...so I am wondering if that is what it is? I take it that they have ruled out it being anything like MS?

Carolyn

[Abbydabby36]

I thought that could possibly be the explanation too.  No one has even questioned MS...I've read that that can show the white spots on on an MRI...Egad...I would rather have them related to the migraines (only ever had "migraines" with the Chiari)...I think MS would be just awful.  Any idea how they test for that?

[*Stormy*]

Well usually the first thing they look for with MS is whether you have lesions showing up on your MRI. The only thing I can guess is that it doesn't look like MS lesions or I am sure that they would have mentioned it to you by now. As far as I know, the other thing they can do is a LP and they test your CSF fluid for certain proteins that can indicate MS. How exactly did they described the white matter, did they say it was a lesion or just differential white matter?

[jvilletina2]

My latest MRI show "moderate foci of abnormal T2 and FLAIR signal in the periventricular and subcortial white matter. Largest measures 7mm and there at least 10 lesions".
Turns out there were seen on all 3 of my MRIs (one pre surgery, 2 post) but no one mentioned them ... my NS basically blew me off when I brought it up recently.
From my internet research I've learnt that they are most likely caused from migraines. No way to prove it though.
If your MRI also says "no enhancing or diffusion positive lesions are seen" I believe this means it does not look like MS.
I have a Chiari friend with an almost identical MRI report also ...

[Abbydabby36]

Thanks for your post!  Whew!  That's a relief...I thought it was probably due to migraines too...but a lot of the literature mentions them with MS...Thanks again!  Take care!!!!!!!!