A little rant about my MRI?

[mpatel81]

Well after 4 long weeks of waiting for my MRI scan, i arrive at the MRI unit yesterday evening only to be told as im getting onto the scanner that my MRI has been requested without contrast. i did try to tell the radiographer that it should have been with contrast as it was to diagnose MS.

The radiographer told me that contrast didnt matter and that MS would show on the type of scan they were doing (i know this not strictly true).

I am now increadibly annoyed about this as the neuro i saw originally was sure he wanted it with contrast (he obviously didnt request this).

argggghhhhh. i am now really worried that the scan will not be as accurate. i had 2 MRI scans 5 years ago that were both clear. i am now having another episode of sensory symptoms (the same as the last). Does MS normally show on an MRI without contrast??

My MRI was brain and c-cpine only as my symptoms are left arm and leg and my neuro felt this was inidicative of a brain or c-spine issue.

Michelle

[Udkas]

Interesting about what you say with spinal lesions, I have normal MRI spinal imaging but because I show clear evidence on medical examination that points to me having spinal lesions I am diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis.  My neurologist maintains very strongly that they are there but imaging just can't detect them.

[COBOB]

GAD contrast only shows lesions that have developed in the last 40 days or so.  I was diagnosed based on T2 lesions, not T1 GAD enhancing lesions.

Bob

[essdipity]

Udkas is right. Contrast, while desirable, isn't crucial. Much more important is the strength of the magnet (1.5 T minimum, 3T preferable), and that the MS protocol is used. That means intervals of 3 mm between images, so as not to miss tiny lesions (if at all possible).

Also important is the software used in conjunction with the magnet. If it is good, then an MRI done without contrast, using MS protocol, should show what's going on in the brain's white matter.

Spinal imaging is a different story. Even state-of-the-art imaging can miss lesions in the spinal cord. If the brain clearly has lesions, neuros are more likely to believe that spinal lesions also exist, based on symptoms but without MRI evidence.

ess

[Udkas]

If you have lesions there they should show up without the contrast, the contrast is used to highlight active lesions, so they know if they are increasing in size etc. sometimes it can help detect small active lesions, but there is a very small window of time between attacks for using Gadolinium so I would not be too concerned that they have not used the contrast, it is prob better if they do one with and without contrast.
The strength of the machine can the important thing,

Good luck with getting some answers.
Cheers,
Udkas
IF you go up to the health pages on this site you can read all about MRI with contrast etc. top right hand corner there is an icon that says health pages.