Brain MRI w/o Contrast to R/O MS

[Suzi69]

The 'Impression' at the bottom of my MRI Report states

  Three subcentimeter nonspecific foci T2 lengthening in the white matter; this is nonspecific, the differential includes multiple sclerosis with other etiologies not excluded'

   I know that Focus means single or 1 and that Foci means more than 1.  But what does the rest mean?
Does it say that MS can not be excluded?

Thanks!

[deadmemory]

It sounds like they are saying that in my opinion (MS cannot be excluded) Unsure what the rest means.. I am sorry.

Hope you find out what this means soon!

Take care,
Krystal

[Suzi69]

That's what I got out of it as well!  

Thanks!,

Suzi

[Dr Sharma]

Dear Suzi, welcome to the medhelp forum. Your MRI shows non-specific lesions or foci, less than a centimeter in size in the white matter, which need to be correlated with your clinical presentation. your neurologist needs to evaluate you clinically and if there is an MS suspicion, there are radiological criteria like no. of lesions, their location and size, an diagnostic criteria for MS. there should be a clinical history of previous attacks, CSF examination and MRI findings should substantiate. The other possible conditions mimicking these changes are microvascular ischemic brain changes in hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol. Certain infective and inflammatory conditions can also account for these changes. Migraine headaches can also have white matter changes on MR. consult a neurologist for evaluation. Wish you all the best.

[Suzi69]

Thank you so much!  =)