Newly Diagnosed
Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 12:46 pm
Hello All,
I have been reading many of the posts here and I now understand why MS is so confusing and hard to diagnose. I for one am confused at the moment. I went to neurologist who specializes in MS. On the first visit he gave me an "80% dx of MS" based on clinical evaluation, my history ove the last 18 years and new MRI results and suggested I start DMD's. I am just wondering if someone could comment on my MRI results and if they think the results show extreme progression of MS or relatively little. So here goes. First is the brain MRI followed by the cervical spine. The thoracic spine is not included as it was "clear". FYI: I do have symptoms such as tingling, numbness in left hand and left leg, and I stumble from time to time. Symptoms vary from day to day from almost none to very annoying and have been present for about two months. When sleeping I have no symptoms. My leg starts to tingle as soon as I start walking. I am not fatigued. If you take the time to read this - thank you. I am filled with anxiety right now and its causing me to obsess over every little sensation I have.
BRAIN MRI
TECHNIQUE: The MRI was done using 1.5 Tesla high field strength short bore magnet. T1,
proton weighted and FLAIR sequences are used. Images are obtained in the sagittal, axial and
coronal projections.
~0 01/0 01
FINDINGS: The posterior fossa demonstrates the fourth ventricle to be midline. No cerebellar
masses are seen. The cerebellopontine angles are clear. No infarcts or hemorrhage are seen. The
acoustic nerves are normal. The brain stem and pons also demonstrate no abnormalities.
The pituitary is normal. The suprasellar cistern is clear. The optic chiasm and optic nerves
demonstrate no abnormalities. Normal ventricles and cortical sulci. No evidence of hemorrhage,
edema or masses in the brain.
The FLAIR sequences demonstrate three nodules of demyelinization in the posterior left parietal and
one in the occipital left deep white matter. These are too few to be called demye/inizating disease at
this time. The demye/inizating disease usually has at least a dozen nodular areas of demyelinization
in the hemispheres. So, these could be degenerative gliosis nodules. No subdural collections.
IMPRESSION:
THERE ARE THREE NODULES OF DEMYELINIZATION NOTICED IN THE DEEP WHITE
MATTER OF THE POSTERIOR LEFT PARIETAL AND OCCIPITAL DEEP WHITE MATTER
WHICH IS NOT DIAGNOSTIC OF DEMYELINIZATING DISEASE. THESE COULD BE
DEGENERATIVE GLIOSIS.
ltAM.: _
CERVICAL SPINE - RADIOLOGISTS IMPRESSION ONLY -
SMALL CENTRAL PROTRUSION OF DISCS C6/7. IT DOES AFFECT NEURAL FORAMINA.
C5/C6 DEMONSTRATES NARROWING OF THE LEFT NEURAL FORAMEN BY BONY OVERGROWTH. THERE ARE THREE AREAS OF DEMYLENIZATION INTHE SPINAL CORD. THE LARGEST ONE IS POSTERIOR TO THE BODY OF C4. IT EXTENDS FOR 14 X 5 MM. IT IS SEEN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SPINAL CORD.
I have been reading many of the posts here and I now understand why MS is so confusing and hard to diagnose. I for one am confused at the moment. I went to neurologist who specializes in MS. On the first visit he gave me an "80% dx of MS" based on clinical evaluation, my history ove the last 18 years and new MRI results and suggested I start DMD's. I am just wondering if someone could comment on my MRI results and if they think the results show extreme progression of MS or relatively little. So here goes. First is the brain MRI followed by the cervical spine. The thoracic spine is not included as it was "clear". FYI: I do have symptoms such as tingling, numbness in left hand and left leg, and I stumble from time to time. Symptoms vary from day to day from almost none to very annoying and have been present for about two months. When sleeping I have no symptoms. My leg starts to tingle as soon as I start walking. I am not fatigued. If you take the time to read this - thank you. I am filled with anxiety right now and its causing me to obsess over every little sensation I have.
BRAIN MRI
TECHNIQUE: The MRI was done using 1.5 Tesla high field strength short bore magnet. T1,
proton weighted and FLAIR sequences are used. Images are obtained in the sagittal, axial and
coronal projections.
~0 01/0 01
FINDINGS: The posterior fossa demonstrates the fourth ventricle to be midline. No cerebellar
masses are seen. The cerebellopontine angles are clear. No infarcts or hemorrhage are seen. The
acoustic nerves are normal. The brain stem and pons also demonstrate no abnormalities.
The pituitary is normal. The suprasellar cistern is clear. The optic chiasm and optic nerves
demonstrate no abnormalities. Normal ventricles and cortical sulci. No evidence of hemorrhage,
edema or masses in the brain.
The FLAIR sequences demonstrate three nodules of demyelinization in the posterior left parietal and
one in the occipital left deep white matter. These are too few to be called demye/inizating disease at
this time. The demye/inizating disease usually has at least a dozen nodular areas of demyelinization
in the hemispheres. So, these could be degenerative gliosis nodules. No subdural collections.
IMPRESSION:
THERE ARE THREE NODULES OF DEMYELINIZATION NOTICED IN THE DEEP WHITE
MATTER OF THE POSTERIOR LEFT PARIETAL AND OCCIPITAL DEEP WHITE MATTER
WHICH IS NOT DIAGNOSTIC OF DEMYELINIZATING DISEASE. THESE COULD BE
DEGENERATIVE GLIOSIS.
ltAM.: _
CERVICAL SPINE - RADIOLOGISTS IMPRESSION ONLY -
SMALL CENTRAL PROTRUSION OF DISCS C6/7. IT DOES AFFECT NEURAL FORAMINA.
C5/C6 DEMONSTRATES NARROWING OF THE LEFT NEURAL FORAMEN BY BONY OVERGROWTH. THERE ARE THREE AREAS OF DEMYLENIZATION INTHE SPINAL CORD. THE LARGEST ONE IS POSTERIOR TO THE BODY OF C4. IT EXTENDS FOR 14 X 5 MM. IT IS SEEN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SPINAL CORD.