please explain the MRI results of my brain

It states as follows:

Findings: There is no acute territorial infarction or intracranial hemorrhage. There is no mass, mass-effect or midline shift. There is mild prominence of the sulci and ventricles, constistent with age appropriate celebral atrophy. There are multiple foci of signal hyperintensity seen on T2 and FLAIR sequences within the subcortical white matter. There is no associated enhancement of these lesions. These are non specific but probably reflect microangiopathic ischemic changes. There is no hydrocephalus. No abnormal extra-axial fluid collections are noted. No areas of abnormal enhancement are seen. Normal flow-voids are maintained at the skull base. This visualized paranasal sinuses and mastoid air cells are clear.
Impression:
1. Age-appropriate celebral atrophy.
2. Nonspecific subcortical white matter signal abnormality, although is probably due to microangiopathic ischemic changes.
3. No acute intracranial abnormality.

I am 65 years old and has headache at my left front side of head for the last two months. I am ok when I lay down.The MRI was done about 15 days ago.

Thanks

[Dr Sharma]

Hi there. It is important to make note that white matter lesions on a brain mri does not necessarily mean Multiple sclerosis. White matter lesions can be seen in various conditions. These represent micro vascular ischemic changes in the brain hence these white matter abnormalities on mri are common in patients who have microvascular and macro vascular risk factors like history of hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol. White matter signal changes on MRI are seen in infectious and other inflammatory conditions and migraine headaches. These white matter signal changes on brain mri need to be correlated to the history, clinical examination and other ancillary investigations. Your doctor will need to investigate you for multiple sclerosis where the disease phase is characterized by active phase and remissions. It has multiple symptoms and signs and is a diagnosis of exclusion. The symptoms of multiple sclerosis are loss of balance, muscle spasms, numbness in any area, problems with walking and coordination, tremors in one or more arms and legs. Bowel and bladder symptoms include frequency of micturition, urine leakage, eye symptoms like double vision uncontrollable rapid eye movements, facial pain, painful muscle spasms, tingling, burning in arms or legs, depression, dizziness, hearing loss, fatigue etc. The treatment is essentially limited to symptomatic therapy so the course of action would not change much whether MS has been diagnosed or not. Apart from clinical neurological examination, MRI shows MS as paler areas of demyelination, two different episodes of demyelination separated by one month in at least two different brain locations. Spinal tap is done and CSF electrophoresis reveals oligoclonal bands suggestive of immune activity, which is suggestive but not diagnostic of MS. Demyelinating neurons, transmit nerve signals slower than non-demyelinated ones and can be detected with EP tests. These are visual evoked potentials, brain stem auditory evoked response, and somatosensory evoked potential. Slower nerve responses in any one of these is not confirmatory of MS but can be used to complement diagnosis along with a neurological examination, medical history and an MRI in addition, a spinal tap. Therefore, it would be prudent to consult your neurologist with these concerns. Hope this helps. Take care.

[LinRun]

I had an MRI in 2006 and just recently last week here is my recent findings below. It consistant with 2006 but has increased in lesions and now showing inflamed arteries in my brain, what is this MRI saying?
No acute infarct. There is no mass effect, midline shift, or evidence
of intracranial hemorrhage. The ventricles are not enlarged out of
proportion to the cerebral sulci. Numerous foci of nonspecific T2
signal hyperintensity predominantly involve the subcortical white
matter and corona radiata of both cerebral hemispheres; however,
there is mild involvement of the periventricular white matter as
well. Postcontrast images demonstrate no abnormal intracranial
enhancing lesions. Major vascular intracranial flow-voids are
present. Two adjacent tiny rounded foci of T1 hyperintense signal
along the right parasagittal falx (image 11, series 2) probably
represent tiny foci of fat or calcification along the falx.