What does this comment from my MRI mean?

Multiple foci of increased FLAIR signal within the deep white matter. These may be microvascular in orgin, however could be due to demyelination as well.

That is what MRI report says.

[Quixotic1]

Hi, and welcome to the MS Forum.  We haven't heard from you before.  I hope you post again and tell us a little about why you had an MRI done and why you landed on and MS forum.

In plain language the report says:  There are multiple spots of an increased signal.  this translates to multiple spots of lesions.  They show up as bright white spots.  These were picked up using something called the FLAIR technique which is just one of several techniques they use during the MRI to pick up abnormal spots.

The radiologist is saying that these spots are not real specific as to what caused them.  It might have been tiny blood vessel disease (microvascular) like you would see in hypertension, migraines, or something like diabetes.  But, then (s)he says that the spots could also be from a disease process that attacks and destroys the myelin that wraps the nerve fibers (demyelination).  The most common disease that causes this is Mulitple Sclerosis, but there are also many more diseases in which it is seen.  So the neurologist should do the work up for the other diseases which can cause demyelination.

I will say that the lesions of "microvascular" disease do not usually cause neurological symptoms.  If you are having symptoms of nerve disease then these lesions can't be ignored.

I hope this helps and that you will tell us more about yourself.

Quix

[Candy224]

The MRI was done because I had migraine level headaches for over a week (which is not something I suffer from...only had about 3 in my whole life before).  Nothing would make them any better.  I tried migraine medication and sinus headache medication.  Pain was in the front of my head and behind my eyes.  My blood pressure was high as well - around 160/102 while usually about 120/80, so I now have blood pressure medication I take...

I am 49 years old and other than some osteoarthritis and sluggish thyroid, I have always been healthy.