New MRI results: what is "subependymal nodularity"??

[JemmAus]

Hi, got my latest scans back. Rah rah usual stuff eg:

Multiple deep white matter foci of high signal intensity, Size and ditribution suggestive of demyelination.

Yeah, i knew that bit...BUT:

Bilateral subependymal nodularity is present.

?????

I looked that up and epilepsy seems to be the thing, however I was tested for that in 2007 or 2008 (go brain!!) and came up ok.....?

Can it mean something else? Or nothing?

Neuro is still on holiday.

[jensequitur]

You're not alone!

[JemmAus]

Ah ok thanks. It's funny, sometimes I think I am understanding the whole thing. Then I read something else and get all confused again!

[jensequitur]

I have some lesions that have remained unchanged, and others which have gotten better.  I think the basic rule is that there are no rules!

Probably you'll start seeing changes in your MRI after three or four years.  It takes a while for neurons to grow back.

[JemmAus]

Actually while I'm at it, the end of the report say:

"Multiple deep white matter foci of high signal intensity. Size and distribution suggestive of demyelination. Subependymal nodularity.

COmpared with the previous MRI of the brain there is no discernable interval change."

Ummmm...........previous MRI is 2 years old. No change? Aren't ones lesions supposed to change with MS?

CONFUSED AGAIN!!!!

[JemmAus]

Hi girls - thanks. I THINK from what I can tell is it's a genetic birth defect (THANKS MOTHER!) and can be asymptomatic......althogh i DID have a seizure in 2007.....

Neuro is back at the end of this week....after i read a bit last night I stopped worrying - I figure if I'd had it since birth and it hasn't killed me yet it's probably not about to (touch wood!). (If you never hear from me again you know I got THAT wrong!).

Jemm

[Lulu54]

Jemm,
Wasn't there a backup doctor handling the neuro's caseload?  Check with your neighbor friend and see if you can get a message to that doc instead of worrying over this.  Good luck, Lu.  

[jensequitur]

I had to google each individual word - subependymal means around the lateral ventricles, nodularity means bumpy or calcified, and bilateral of course means both sides.

As for what it is...  I gleaned from my brief search that sometimes it's caused by the brain growing improperly at birth.  Small bits of brain end up in the wrong place, and cause neurological problems (such as epilepsy.)

"Bilateral periventricular nodular heterotopia (BPNH) is a neuronal migration disorder that is characterized by subependymal nodules of gray matter."

That's just from the google search - when does your neuro get back?

[michelleislay]

oh wow, jemm...that must have been a surprise to read!

i don't know how to interpret it and can imagine how anxious you must be to hear from someone who can...how long is your neuro on holiday for??

can you see your family doc. to discuss results?

thinking of you and hope this doesn't cloud your weekend!!

xo michelle