Periventricular White Matter

I'm a 23 year old female that have been experiencing sporadic "bright lights" follow by strong headaches. My ophthalmologist found an inflammation in the optic nerve and recommended a MRI. The MRI diagnosis is as follow:

The extraocular muscles, optic nerves and
eye globes appear symmetric and normal. No intraconal
or extraconal masses. No soft tissue masses or
abnormal fluid collections. The optic chiasm is
preserved. No abnormal enhancement.

The FLAIR images demonstrate minimal periventricular
white mater hyperintensities. There is no mass effet.
midline shift or hemorrhage. No extra-axial fluid
collections. The basal ganglia, blainstem and
cerebellum have normal MRI appearance. The ventricles,
sulci and subrachnoid spaces appear normal. The major
intracranial vessels show noral flow-void signal. No
abnormal enhancement after administration. A small
mucosal retention cyst or polyp is seen superomedial
wall left maxillary sinus measuring 0.9 cm.

CONCLUSION:
1. Unremarkable orbits.
2. Minimal periventricular white matter
hyperintensities. It may be seen with gliosis of any
etiology (small vessel ischmic changes, migraine, post
trauma, vasculities, etc.) and with demyelinating
process.
3. Left maxillary sinus mucosal retention cyst or polyp.

I dont have an appointment with the neurologist until next month. Could you explain a little bit what this medical terms means and what could I have. I'm desperate!!

[painkiller99]

Hi.

Basically, your MRI reports that some white matter lesions have been seen in your brain and it could be caused by many disorders such as brain ischemia, migraines, vasculitis as well as demyelinating disorders.  There was also not of either a cyst or polyp at your left maxillary sinus.

Your symptoms of "bright lights" with severe headaches could be related to a migraine headache.

Consult your neurologist to properly assess your condition.

Good luck.

[Kamal S Saini, MD, MRCP (UK), DM]

Hi. Firstly, the bright lights followed by headaches points towards classical migraine. Appropriate medication may take care of it. The MRI report suggests that there is a possibility that there is something more than migraine..... may not be related to your symptoms of headache. The brain has two layers ... called the Grey mater and the white mater. Grey mater covers the white mater. Your white mater may have a gliosis (resulting from any injury to the brain cells). The hyperintensities may also be seen in cases where the covering of the individual brain cells is damaged (called demyelination). The maxillary sinus is a cavity in the cheek bone. due to fluctuating pressures inside the sinus, a polyp (a bulge in the lining of the cavity) may occur.  Hence, you may have migraine, with or without an associated brain condition. Please do not worry much about the medical terminologies.

[phd033]

I too have white matter in the frontal lobe I had an mri 7 years ago and they never told me this.  I started having some symptoms weakness, tingling feeling on left side of face.  So I had another mri and it showed no changes in the white matter so that was good but I still have no answers.  They just brush it off as nothing. but I am concerned about ms.  I dont have an apt until april. Also they found out they i have chronic sinunitis. good luck