MRI BRAIN CONTRAST VS NON CONTRAST DIFFERENCE

[rv62]

i have a small doubt. if the mri is showing mild demyleination when initially MRI brain was done without contrast and subsequently after treatment when the same was repetead, it was showing as little reduction. what are the effects will be.will i need to take the repetition of this after 6 months. if so can i do the contrast. what will be the difference.

[Lulu54]

Our body is constantly trying to heal - think about cuts and how fast the body works to heal that with a scab.  The same happens with the areas of demyelination - the body tries hard to rebuild the myelin, although it's not as good the second time around and sometimes our body doesn't do a good job at all.  

It's possible your areas reduced a bit because of this healing process.

Lesions will appear on the MRI whether you have the contrast agent or not.  The contrast just helps to "illuminate" lesions that are less than about 40 days old, which indicate new disease activity.

I hope this helps.
Lulu

You don't say, are you diagnosed with MS?

[Sumanadevii]

The contrast from what I understand will only help show if the lesion is active.  Otherwise it just shows a lesion..The neuro will not know if it is new or old.