Lesions seen with contrast

[Rena705]

I asked the nurse at the MS Society about lesion counting and how that effects whether a patient receives DMD's or not.  The answer I got was "The lesions that are on your MRI have obviously not changed or your disease would have been deemed as active."

I asked the nurse if there had been contrast material used in my MRI would new lesions have shown up better and she said "Contrast material would only show up the old lesions, the MRI without contrast would be the one that would show new lesions."

Just wanted to hear your response to these two statements that I am quoting directly from the nurse's mouth...

I just tried to speak to someone at the head office and was given a voice mail but didn't bother to leave a message...

Rena

[doublevision1]

Perhaps you should refer that nurse to the MS Society's own web site.  For example, they posted a study entitled "Antegren Results Look Promising in Small Study" at http://www.mssociety.ca/en/research/PT011024.htm.

In the article, it states:

"The primary goal of the study was to evaluate safety and to determine the impact of treatment on the accumulation of new MS enhancing lesions in the brain detected by MRI." It goes on to say "Dr. Miller reported that the six-month study showed a reduction in accumulation of new lesions detected by gadolinium-enhanced MRI."

That's NEW lesions detected by GADOLINIUM-ENHANCED MRI.  

As per MS SOCIETY website.

db1

[slightlybroken]

That lady needs to go back to school. She has it backwards. The contrast shows active/new lesions.

[Rena705]

BINGO!! That's what I figured too and I even questioned her on her response but she stuck to this B.S. so I guess relying on the MS Society is not a good idea either right?

So the white spots on my MRI are lesions???? and if they are white does that mean they are active???

[jensequitur]

That's what i thought too - the active lesions are wet, and so pick up the gadolinium.  The old lesions are dry, and show up as black holes on the no-contrast MRI.

[LATW]

I think that is back wards.....I think the contrast is given to show active lesions as they will light up.  

I know others know better than I do but I THINK the nurse was wrong.

LA