Sorry - me again

[Patsull813]

Just going over my mri report which found demylienation and would like to ask for defintions for a few words:

gliosis
lacunar
infarcts
subcortical

[biowham]

Gliosis = an area where there has been some kind of owie to the brain and a certain type of cell in the category of glial cells takes over to produce a "scar." This shows up on T2 flair as "hyperintensity" (i.e., whiter than surrounding tissue. There are many causes of gliosis (including some virus you had a long time ago, etc.), and this is generally a nonspecific finding. Doesn't mean that it does mean anything but doesn't mean that it doesn't mean anything--if you know what I mean.

Infarct = results of a stroke, i.e., tissue that has died because of loss of blood supply.

Subcortical can be slightly different in intent, depending on the clinician. Your brain has a cortex (the outer layer that looks all twisty turny) and then the stuff below the cortex. Usually, something that is subcortical lies under this "grey matter" of the cortex, but still near it, but as I said, different clinicians use the term differently. The undeniable implication is that whatever they're talking about is NOT in the cortex.

Lacunar in this instance likely refers to some sign of a type of infarct (I'm guessing...without the context of a sentence, that's hard to tell; does it say "lacunar infarct"?). It would show up on the MRI as damage to the brain--like a hole--on the MRI. I've got a perfect little 3-mm black hole on my MRIs, but it's hard to determine if it's an artefact or not.

Hope this helps. It might be useful if you gave us some phrases in which the terms are used.

E

[Becky999]

I've been diagnosed with MS, Raynauds & Lupus.  Do you know anyone else who has these?

I also have all the symptoms for Sjogrens Syndrome & Scleraderma but have not been diagnosed yet.

Thanks,

Becky

[Becky999]

How about moderately extensive demyelinating disease?  Is it moderate or extensive?

Subcortical?
Periventricular white matter of both cerebral hemispheres?
Pons?
restricted diffusion?

Thanks,

Becky

[mae1]

Hi Pat, Im not real good when it comes to this but I do know a little.
Infarcts I believe is damage to the white matter hence lesion.
subcortical I believe is the depth or layer within the brain.
please correct me anyone if Im wrong.
april