Numbness in left face and arm MRI results

[shysti71]

I have been having headaches, nimbleness of left side of face and arm. Now I am getting dizzy. Went to my Dr and had an MRI of Brain done to rule out MS. These are the results

Impression:
1 punctate are of increased signal intensity in the right frontal periventricular white matter which could be secondary to Ischemic or demelinating disease, Ischemic change or Vasculitis with no evidence of an acute infarct.

2 inflammation changes in the right mastoid air cells

I went to my primary Dr and he referred me to a neurologist. He said it have a SPOT what the heck and not to worry about it but that I have to hear this from a specialist.

Does anyone understand what this means? And what does it mean could be secondary? Is all this just to cover there butts?

Any advise would be great

[shysti71]

I am 42 And have had these symptoms for a couple of years now. It's getting very irritating to say the least. I had MRI done when it started and they didnt find anything then. Now it is showing something. The Dr I am being refered to is a very good neurologist. They sent the report to her and I haven't heard back so I am assuming that it can wait till I see her June 20th.

[immisceo]

Oh, my goodness. I'm so sorry. I lost track of the symptoms you stated! My apologies. Obviously you are presenting in a specific way with symptoms of concern that you deserve an explanation for. I did NOT mean to seem dismissive of them in that last paragraph! So sorry!

[immisceo]

Absolutely go to a neurologist. Even the best PCPs are quickly out of their realm of expertise with stuff like this. Even better, if MS has been mentioned to you, try and find an MS specialist.

In laymen's terms (and I'm VERY much one myself), it's saying the areas of increased intensity/'spots' could be the result of demyelinating disease (of which MS is one), or ischemic changes (blood flow issues). But there was no evidence of something quick and destructive (acute infarct can be used to indicate 'stroke'. They found no evidence of you having had one by the sounds of it).

The second point is clearer, though I'd be lying if I said I knew what mastoid air cells were!

Oh yes. The phrase 'could be secondary' means 'the result of'. Something, some process happened first (primary) and the images show the results of that (secondary).

No, none of this strikes me as suspect (re: 'covering their butts'). It's typical, standard lingo. But it does sound like you very much need to be seeing someone more specialised than a primary on this.

Depending on your age, this may turn out to be something very straight forward. As we age, lesions often show up due to ischemic change.