MRI Results

[Deirdra]

Hello,

Thank you for taking my question.  Your site is incredibly helpful.

My 18 year old son has been having headaches for the past six months and was finally referred for a CT scan.  The results came back showing a "questionable" area in the left frontal lobe and it was recommended, because of his age, to have this investigated further by MRI.  His headaches, by the way, were on the right side.

The MRI results and showed a cyst in his sinus area which probably accounts for his headaches, but also showed a spot in the white matter, the "questionable" area that our doctor described as a hole.  He said he did not think it was MS and told us to have the MRI repeated in six months to see if anything changes.  In the meantime, we are very worried.  I'm not a doctor, but this doesn't sound good to me.

Is it possible that this could be something that is not serious? Please give me some hope, if you can.

Thank you very much for your time.

[zoltanvarga]

There is a site I visit called GP NOTEBOOK.co.uk they have an easy to use A-Z . Good luck ANNE

[TRAMAR47]

I had brain surgery in 92 for a anurysum and this year have been dx. with ENCEPHALOMALACIA. I am very scared and when I went to the Neurosurgeon was so intimitated and scared I could not think. Please tell me what this is and if this is common after brain surgery.  It is located in the right temple area behind the eye.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

It's extremely difficult to interpret an MRI without personally reviewing it, and even more so without the official report. There are different sequences of an MRI in which "spots" can show up as bright or dark. This helps us to figure out if a spot is blood, swelling, MS, infection, etc... The ??"hole" that you describe in the white matter doesn't sound like MS as this is usually bright on what's called "T2 weighted and FLAIR imaging", which are different sequences on the MRI. A "hole" tends to represent something similar to an enlarged space around a blood vessel that is completely normal or perhaps some type of benign cyst.  An MRI with dye may be helpful if not yet done.

It's understandable that you're concerned. A normal neuro exam should be somewhat reassuring. One thing you can do is to bring the films to another neurologist for a second opinion at a major clinical or academic center. Another thing is to sit down with the doctor and discuss your concerns. It doesn't sound like something ominous from your description, but again I am commenting on an MRI that I have never seen. Best of luck.

[spotness]

Well, I'm not fully informed, but I did some research on tumors and the brain etc when it was possible my son may have had one.  There are SEVERAL 'things' that can show up in an mri or cat scan that are basically benign and not typically involved with symptoms or problems in life. Remember that even though they have names, it doesn't make them dangerous or harmful.
Arachnoid cysts are one, I believe, as well as (something I can't remember the name of) which is basically a hole.  Not caused by anything but developed that way, just a small space containing nothing significant and looking like a hole.  Also something near the pineal gland or hypothalamus; it doesn't close or something after birth and is basically a benign tumor. When doctors find these, they're generally 'incidental'; meaning that they found it and can name it, but it's not important to his treatment now or future health. Most people never know they have them, but it's discovered during autopsy.
Anyway, I hope this helps.  the follow-up MRI at 6 months will help to shed more light on the 'something', and you'll probably feel better then when there's been no change in the 'something'. Good luck to you