MRI Results

[alaskafed]

My dad received the following MRI report and has been referred to a neurologist.  It is taking quite a while to get an appt but the results concern us.  Can anyone translate the following?

Low signal in the centrum semiovale on the left likely reflects hemosiderin staining from blood products suspicious for small cavemoma.  Recommend followup exam in 3-6 months with and without gadolinium at that time.

Mild to moderate hyperintensities in the subcortical and periventricular white matter are consistent with small vessel ischemic disease or the effects of vasculopathy.

He has been having severe dizzy spells/loss of equilibrium, difficulty with his speech (trying to find the right words, etc), hands shaking severly, shuffling his feet rather than taking actual steps.  

Report also says "There are mild to moderate subcortical and periventricular hyperintensities.  As well, there is an 8mm area of low signal probably hemosiderin staining and a centrum semiovale on the left with mild surrounding edema.
Thank you

[disguisedas]

I have been dealing with partial loss of vision in right eye for almost 2 years now and I fall from time to time. 3 days ago i was just standing and joking with  my son and my toes went numb. I walked to the other room to get my phone charger and kicked off my shoe. I have flat feet and sometimes that happens depending on what shoes i am wearing. I started to wiggle my toes and the numbness spread to my whole foot and ankle. i walk to my room mates door to ask him to watch my son but by the time i got to his door i could barely stand. i had 911 dialed on my phone but could not get my hand to move to hit the CALL button. I went to the hospital and they didnt even look at me. they said i was just hyperventillating and gave me benadryl and sent me home. it got worse, spread to my arm and face yet no one seems to think this is a big deal. i have come up negative for ms before. my chest hurts still and i still cant feel my toes or lips. i had a head mri done but i dont get the results till monday and i am just getting worse. the comment section of the MRI says: WOW, i dont know what that means. can anybody shed any light on what the heck is happening to me and why this is apparently no big deal? i am only 30 and i am partially blind, cant feel my left side and i am scared because no one knows why. thank you for any help you might have. -Amy

[Valkyrie568]

I live 900 miles from my parents and I'm guessing you live even further. It does make these health issues even harder to help with! I had to fly home to push the issue over checking into the NPH for him! A lot of neurologists seem to be very difficult to deal with, too, which doesn't help!

[alaskafed]

Thanks to all of your for your input.  Having parents live far away from you makes helping them extremely difficult.  We will continue researching doctors and getting him in for the appointment.  Completely agree that this is only one piece of the puzzle.  

[Valkyrie568]

I agree that really the only way to get an accurate interpretation of the report is to have a well qualified doctor with access to both the report and your dad make that interpretation. But it will be much easier to decide if the doctor IS well qualified by doing your homework first. While doing your research into possibilities, you might want to check into Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. Your mention of his shuffling steps and some of the wording on the MRI report made me wonder if this might be a possibility.

I have included a link to a good video on this condition and there is a foundation site with some good info, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm0CZh_X-vM

I hope you can get to the bottom of this soon.

Valerie

[sllowe]

Alaskafed,

Thank you for joining us. Since the report contains some language regarding lesion location, I see why you found us.

However, not all lesions are MS, and there is some mention to ischemic and vascular in the findings.

The follow-up with a neurologist is recommended to take your Dads symptoms, and the imaging, and a thorough exam into consideration to identify what is the cause of your Dads current problems. Without that clinical correlation, the report in and of itself (or dissection of it from us) will not tell the full tale of what is going on.

If it were me, and my Dad, I would press for that appointment asap. Sounds like he is having a hard time walking, etc., and it would be good for the doctor to see what is going on, while it is currently going on.

Is the appointment lined up?
Thank you for trusting us for thoughts.
-Shell

[zoefromsussex]

Wow, these MRI reports are so hard to decipher, aren't they?!
So, has your dad got MS too? Only ischemic disease is something very different and refers to blocked arteries eg strokes. I'm obviously not a medical expert but I think the report is referring to damage from ischemic disease. I think there are other neurology forum's on Medhelp which might have more specific info?
All the best, Zoe