MRI Report

I had an MRI I have the results but still waiting for a Doctor to call me. It says the following The ventricles and cortical sulci are symmetric. there s mild diffuse cerebral atrophy. there are also multiple foci in the per ventricular white matter signal. differential might include early chronic deep ischemic periventricular white matter disease change. although a process such as ms cannot ne excluded. It also says Multiple foci periventricular white matter signal, nonspecific. Differential would include early chronic ischemic small vessel disease change, non specifically gliosis, although even a specific process such as MS cannot be excluded. Does this mean it is likely that I have MS. I have already been diagnosed with Painful peripheral neuropathy. I have weakness in my legs numbness and burning. I also have now developed weakness in my arms. Please any help would be appreciated!! I am not diabetic.

[LivingInHope]

The first sentence sounds like a positive statement.  The next statement means there is mild wide spread shrinkage of your cerebral muscle (you've had some brain shrinkage, which I think can happen to us all as we age)

The next portion looks like deep within the white matter, there is evidence that leads them to believe you may have  
A)
a lack of oxygen to tissues in the brain- this kind of thing can happen in people with chronic migraines, with high blood pressure, and with plaque build up in the small blood blood vessels in the brain, which can lead to a lack of the oxygenated blood to brain tissues.  If you have had a lipid panel lately and it showed high LDL and/or high triglycerides, this is something I hope the doctor is treating/working with you on a treatment plan about.  Early chronic would mean while it has been around awhile (to qualify for the "chronic" label), it looks like it hasn't been going on a very long while, making it "early chronic".

B) gliosis appears like it can be scarring/signs of healing of the brain in reaction to brain injury/after an injury of the central nervous system- they don't think it looks specific though

C) They can't rule out multiple sclerosis, which is where your  symptoms and history comes in when the doctor is trying to come up with a diagnosis

Have they checked for low potassium level?  Have they done an EMG on you?  Have they checked for all known causes of peripheral neuropathy, not just diabetes?  (For example, with testing, it turned out one of my parents who has peripheral neuropathy in lower extremities has MGUS, which on occasion can lead to cancer.)

[sllowe]

Hi there,

We've not met - so hello! And, welcome!

It sure does not mean you likely have MS. MS is a clinical diagnosis, and will not be dx'd by imaging alone. Unfortunately, it's not an easy disease to ds. Many processes, along with clinical evaluation by a neurologist is needed to support a disease process such as MS.

Have you a chance to peek at our health pages? If not, please do - you will learn alot about MS there as well as from many of our versed members.

When do you go back to the doctor for your follow-up appointment? I hope the doc some light on what the imaging means in terms what he/she has found clinically, and by way of other tests.

-Shell

[COBOB]

Gliosis can cause atrophy. Scar tissue in the brain takes up less space than healthy brain tissue.  MS (and other processes ) can cause gliosis.  You really need to see what your neurologist says about the MRIs.  The lack of anatomical landmarks or any description of the morphology of the hyperintensities really doesn't help.  

In general, the MRI report, is neither proof of MS or proof that you do not have MS.  The clinical exam and history have to be taken into account.  You doctor may also have to do additional tests to rule out other "mimics" for MS.

Bob


Bob