CT / MRI

  I RECENTLY HAD A CT SCAN OF THE BRAIN, WHICH SHOWED MULTIPLE LOW ATTENUATION PLAQUES IN THE BRAIN WHERE THE GREY / WHITE MATTER MEET. MY INTERNEST SUGGESTED IT COULD BE MS AND SENT ME TO A NEUROLOGIST ALONG WITH AN MRI. THE NEUROLOGIST SAID HE DID NOT FEEL IT WAS MS AFTER GIVING ME A 5 MIN. NEUROLOGICAL. WAS THIS LONG ENOUGH. WHY ARE THE PLAQUES IN MY BRAIN?
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Thanks for your question.  Without looking at the imaging studies themselves
it is difficult to make a comprehensive comment.  There are some radiological
features in plaques (or areas of hypoatenuation) that suggests MS:
peri-ventricular distribution, particularly in the posterior poles of
the lateral ventricles; a perpendicular orientation to the long axis of
the ventricles; "bites" on the corpus callosum in para-sagital images;
enhancement of the plaques with contrast medium, particularly in the presence
of clinical signs of active MS.  There are numerous other reasons for the
presence of plaques in the brain imaging, ranging from vascular, inflammatory,
cancerous, infectious causes.  Quite often, the imaging characteristics
are fairly typical of a pathological process, but sometimes it requires
clinical correlation, or even invasive diagnostic procedures, such as a
biopsy of the lesion.
I hope this information is helpful.  Best of luck.
This information is provided for general medical education purposes only.
Please consult your doctor regarding diagnostic and treatment options.