This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Hello everyone,

I have recently fired my Neurologist and I am now waiting to see another. I recieved my MRI reports and I was wondering if anyone could help interpret or describe them in layman's terms. For that matter any input would be helpful. Thanks!


DATE: 06/06/2007

EXAMINATION - MRI of the whole brain performed without and with intravenous gadolinium protocol.

FINDINGS -

1. There are numerous large round and ovoid areas of abnormal signal emanating from the periventricular white matter out, into the more peripheral white matter consistent with the pattern of “Dawson’s fingers”. There are also subcortical areas of abnormal signal in several locations within the cerebral hemispheres. There is a large dominate focus of abnormal signal in the left lower frontal white matter, which measures approximately 15mm in size. The presence of one or two small areas of hyper attenuation are scattered in the left brain stem and right deep cerebellar hemisphere.

2. After contrast demonstrate that there are numerous periventricular and peripheral white matter foci of rounded abnormal signal enhancement, representing breakdown of the blood brain barrier and active plaques, which are present in both cerebral hemispheres and in the left cerebellum.

3. The T1 weighted image sequence demonstrates there are only a small number of plaques exhibiting cystic change (chronic).

CONCLUSION-

1. The abnormality is multifocal, and the changes are compatible with the given clinical diagnosis of acute demyelination within the brain with active and subacute multifocal zones of demyelinating disease compatible with a variation of MS.


EXAMINATION – Cervical spinal MRI examination performed without and with intravenous gadolinium contrast.

FINDINGS -

1. There is a distinctive zone of abnormal signal and modest enlargement, eccentrically placed through the mid cervical spinal cord at the level of the vertebral body levels C5 and C6. A tiny satellite focus of enhancement is demonstrated slightly more caudally in the dorsal fibers of the cord but otherwise the remainder of the cervical spinal cord shows only very small additional areas of minimal enhancement noted at C3-C4 level.

2. Cervical spinal cord demelination of an acute nature is present.

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DATE: 08/22/2007

EXAMINATION - MRI of the whole brain performed without and with intravenous gadolinium protocol.

FINDINGS -

1. The zones of scattered white matter hyperintensity and the extensive periventricular foci of confluent hyperintensity remain present in the subcortical white matter, areas have both receded and increased in size in conspicuity compared to the FLAIR imaging of 6-3-07.

2. On the post-contrast imaging, the dominant round focus of abnormal enhancement in the left frontal white matter and additional small foci of abnormal signal hyperintensity scattered about the white matter of the hemispheres have largely involuted and resorbed. However, there are now new areas of punctate and curvilinear enhancement in the distribution of the cerebral hemispheres, which were not present on the prior study and are indicative of additional areas of acute demyelynating change seen both in subcortical areas, as well as in the corpus callosum and adjacent deep white matter. None of these individual areas are larger than 1cm in size presently.

3. There is no sign of intracranial subdural fluid collection or incidental mass lesion. The ventricular system remains normal in size.

CONCLUSION-

1. White matter disease of the brain exhibits signs of new and additional active scattered demyelinating plaque formed since the prior MRI of 6-3-07.


EXAMINATION - Cervical spinal MRI examination performed without and with intravenous gadolinium contrast.

FINDINGS -

1. A large zone of enhancing cervical spinal cord demyelination identified at the level of C5-C6, has diminished somewhat in size, while it remains visible in the centrum of the spinal cord, the degree of enhancement and portions of this focus have diminished.

2. There are areas which enhance in a low grade fashion now at the level of C3-4 and at the level of T1-T2, which were not evident on the prior examination, and are now represented on the sequences as additional lower grade active areas of new demyelination in the spinal cord.

i'll get mine out for comparison, and look up the old brain and spine web sites i looked at when i was first trying to get a handle on my reports. no comments just yet, too early