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ever since i got a copy of my mri consultation it has been confusing me and one part was never explained to me...
it said i had a small meningioma which I've known about for 3 years and a new finding of empty sella...I know about that stuff. What I'm curious about I'm going to quote here. The second part of the mri consultation

'A few tiny incidental white matter hyperintensities are noted in both frontal lobes. These are nonspecific and unlikely to be clinically significant'

What does this mean?? I cant find much about it online except that it's seen more often in elderly patients(im 27) or in people with strokes.

Now for the spinal tap...they didn't test for proteins, lupus or anything else they could of ruled out(pretty ticked off about this) but I got the report back on this and my RBC count is at 68. I know it's rare to have RBC in a spinal tap but the Dr said it could be from bleeding during the procedure...but isn't a RBC count of 68 really high??? not the norm??? it says the norm on the report should be 0-1.

please let me know what you think...the white matter hyperintensities were never explained to me and I have talked to 3 of my dr's about it and dont get an answer.

thanks
-sandra d

hi tm, people can have white matter hyperintensities for a variety of reasons. when i was getting diagnosed they were looking for at least 9 i think?, and particularly in a formation known as dawson's fingers (check and.. check). some people never have any noticeable problems and on autopsy their brains are full of lesions. they just don't seem to have anything to do with a person's level of disability. at least not using current systems of assessment. spinal lesions on the other hand... you can definitely feel the effects of those! there are quite a few people out there who suffer neurological symptoms without having any of the 'checklist' stuff that results in an ms dx. sometimes ppl have to wait years before they finally develop a visible sign that lets the docs say 'aha'!
as for the tap, that is inconceivable that they did not test for igg or oligoclonal banding. i really don't get it. don't know what's up with the RBC thing!

thanks for the info...my family dr said it may be a few years before i get a diagnosis...
they never did an mri of my spine because my dr was just checking to see if my tumor had grown cuz of the vertigo stuff...im set up for another mri(wait time here in 3 months when its not urgent) Im not sure if he set up for the spine as well...but i see my family dr on friday and will ask...and if not im gonna see if she can have it added...
It's only been in the last month that I have had the numbing hands and feet(usually both on the right side). One night when i was sitting here at home in november was the first time. I had just had a full 8 hour day of first aid and all of a sudden i got really flushed and sick feeling with a severe pain in the left side of my head and my arm went numb...it was scary...may have even been a tia for all i know. But ever since then my feet and hands go numb...or weak.
What other symptoms could there be with a spine lesion?? I know a lot of my symptoms are cognitive.
Thanks again
-Sandra D