Hi I am 32 year old female and I was recently referred by my neuro for a brain and spine MRI to see if I had evidence of MS.
His instructions on my referral form said "GAD if necessary." I had the MRI today and the technician said that they may stop the scan part way through if I need to have a GAD injection. Anyway the scan went for about thirty minutes, then she brings me out and I asked if I needed the injection and she said that I didn't and I was done. My question is does this mean that it is likely that they found nothing?
Thanks Mandy
MRI - No GAD mean no MS?
Re: MRI - No GAD mean no MS?
Hi Mandy!
For your sake, I hope that they didn't find anything. However, it seems odd that a doctor would give a technician that much decision making authority to determine whether or not you should have contrast (GAD) for your MRI.
Regardless, I hope that things go well for you. Most of us know the struggle of the waiting game and forgive the language, how much it sucks. Hang in there!
For your sake, I hope that they didn't find anything. However, it seems odd that a doctor would give a technician that much decision making authority to determine whether or not you should have contrast (GAD) for your MRI.
Regardless, I hope that things go well for you. Most of us know the struggle of the waiting game and forgive the language, how much it sucks. Hang in there!
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Re: MRI - No GAD mean no MS?
Thanks so much for your response scdiva81. Yeah I am not sure if they got the doctor to come in and have a look then decided they didn't need to do it (I was stuck in the tube). I know they were having some problems because my legs kept shaking and they were having issues getting the images, but who knows. But I hoping this means that they found nothing and I can relax, but I will just have to wait another two weeks which as you said sucks! Thanks again
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Re: MRI - No GAD mean no MS?
Please note I have NO medical training, so take all the below with a pinch of salt, and speak to your neurologist.
GAD is used to highlight currently active lesions. If you are early on the disease, your lesions may be small and easy to miss without GAD; especially if its only a 1.5T MRI or less. I would guess what is meant is that if you can't see any obvious MS lesions, try using GAD. I have had MS for 20+ years, I do not show enhanced lesions; hopefully because of my treatment...
I would guess that they could see signs of MS lesions already without the help of GAD, so saw no reason to use it. They could of also saw something else which explains your issues, and so saw no reason to continue looking for MS.
GAD is used to highlight currently active lesions. If you are early on the disease, your lesions may be small and easy to miss without GAD; especially if its only a 1.5T MRI or less. I would guess what is meant is that if you can't see any obvious MS lesions, try using GAD. I have had MS for 20+ years, I do not show enhanced lesions; hopefully because of my treatment...
I would guess that they could see signs of MS lesions already without the help of GAD, so saw no reason to use it. They could of also saw something else which explains your issues, and so saw no reason to continue looking for MS.
Re: MRI - No GAD mean no MS?
GAD is helpful in determining an active lesion. An mri without GAD will see inactive lesions. Either way, still helpful in making a diagnosis.