help! Need help interpreting

[angela5674]

I just received my results from my mri.  They did one on my cervical and one on the brain, both w/ and w/out contrast.  Please help me understand what exactly they mean.  Does it seem like there's a good chance I have MS?  Here's the results of both:

Examination: MRI of brain with and without contrast

History: Facial numbness and pain.

Technique: Routine multiplanar imaging of the brain was performed
including diffusion weighted, sagittal FLAIR and postcontrast
enhanced sequences.

Findings: No prior studies are available for comparison. Midline
structures are normal in appearance. The ventricles and cisterns
are normal. Within the periventricular white matter adjacent to
the midaspect of the right lateral ventricle there is an oval
shaped area of increased T2 and FLAIR signal. Similar-appearing
white matter lesion is noted adjacent to the anterior horn left
lateral ventricle and adjacent to the posterior horn of the right
lateral ventricle. These lesions are perpendicular to the lateral
ventricles. No areas of abnormal enhancement are identified.
Diffusion weighted images are normal in appearance. Normal
expected T2 flow-voids are identified. Orbits and visualized
paranasal sinuses are normal.

Impression:
Three oval shaped lesions within the periventricular white matter
which demonstrate high T2 and FLAIR signal. These lesions are
perpendicular to the lateral ventricles. Imaging findings are
nonspecific. These findings can be seen in a demyelinating
process such as multiple sclerosis. ADEM is also a consideration.
Chronic migraine headaches can also give this appearance.


Examination: MRI cervical spine with and without contrast

History: Facial pain, numbness and radiculopathy.

Technique: Routine multiplanar imaging of the cervical spine was
performed including sagittal and axial T1-weighted images
postcontrast.

Findings: No prior studies are available for comparison.
Straightening of the normal cervical curvature is identified.
There is mild disc space narrowing at C3/4 through C6/7. Within
the cervical spinal cord at the C2/3 level there is an oval
shaped area of ill-defined increased T2 signal measuring 8mm
superior to inferior x 4 mm transverse x 4 mm AP. No abnormal
enhancement is identified.

C2/3: No significant central canal stenosis or neural foraminal
narrowing.

C3/4: There is a very small circumferential disc bulge without
evidence of central canal stenosis. There is mild right and
moderate left neural foraminal narrowing.

C4/5: There is a very small circumferential disc bulge without
evidence of central canal stenosis. There is mild bilateral
neural foraminal narrowing.

C5/6: There is a small circumferential disc bulge resulting in
mild central canal stenosis. There is mild bilateral neural
foraminal narrowing.

C6/7 and C7/T1: No significant central canal stenosis or neural
foraminal narrowing.

Impression:
1. Ill-defined area of increased T2 signal within the spinal cord
at the C2/3 level. Differential considerations include a
demyelinating process such as multiple sclerosis. Acute
transverse myelitis is also a consideration.
2. Multilevel mild degenerative disc disease. These findings most
advanced at C5/6 where there is mild central canal stenosis.
3. Multilevel bilateral neural foraminal narrowing as detailed
above.

[oncetri]

Sounds like they are given you a diagnosis of MS, without definitely stating it.  Possibly leaving the diagnosis to the referring physician,s ince this is a radiologist recommendation, I gather.  It sounds like there might also be a disc problem, though I don't know if that is related to MS, either directly or indirectly.

Good luck with everything.  Hopefully you can now get a definitive diagnosis and begin seaking treatment.
Corinne

[skarey]

I'm not really sure, but it sounds as if it is a possibility since it states MS in the report.  I'm searching for a Dx as well.  What exactly are your symptoms?
  Take care,
  Skarey