MRI again!! Sorry...

[Alisonp21]

On discharge, in 2004 after a relapse and a DX, a Dr told me I had lesions in the Cerebellum, Cerebella Diffuse and at C4 - C5 spine posterialy.
I never had this explained to me at the time and I have only just found the information again! After lots of diggin around.


The MRI I had done in October 07 is as follows...
Focal area of high signal on T2 close to Occipital Horn on the left.
Focal area left frontal lobe.
Focal area right Occipital Lobe

My question...Are the 2 scans similar?

Bye for now
Alison

[biowham]

Hi, Allison:

Your first report describes only lesions in the cerebellum and in your upper spine (cervical spine, or C-spine).

Your second report makes no mention of any lesions in the cerebellum or C-spine. The lesions it describes are in the noncerebellar parts of the brain. It looks like that the first time, you had a brain and C-spine scan or that the brain scan caught the C-spine, too, but the second report references only brain structures, so it may be that the C-spine was not scanned the second time or that the radiologist simply didn't see anything there to comment on; however, usually, they'll remark that they didn't see anything just to make it clear that they looked.

"Focal" means that the signal is focused in a spot. "Diffuse" means that it is spread around an area, not focused in a detectable spot or spots. From what I've read (and like Heather, I'm not an MD), it is common for there to be either, especially as MS becomes more long standing.

Your reports could mean one or both of two things: you have dissemination in time and space (your spots vanish from some areas and/or you get new ones in other places) and/or the C-spine was not scanned on the second report. There is a small likelihood that the differences in the impressions have to do with differences in readers or scanning equipment. Were the scans done at different places?

E

[Heather3418]

Alison, dearheart...since none of us here on this Forum are doctor's, it's very hard for us to be able to decipher this MRI report.  Your doctor is the best one to put this all together for you.

One thing I do believe I can answer, is the second report does not make mention of any lesions in the  C-4, C-5.  If that is not included in the second MRI report, then it appears that the lesion in the spine (if a spinal MRI was done the second time) did not appear in the second MRI.

Here is link to a website that explains the various aspects of the brain where your report says you have lesions.  I hope it is of some help to you.

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/kinser/Structure1.html

I wish I could be of more help.  I am merely a person that has MS and not qualified to give you specific answers about what your MRI report means.  I am so sorry.

All the Best,
Heather