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Please---does anyone know what this means? My neuro wants to do an MRI of my spine next, more blood work and (possibly) a lumbar puncture. She is leaning towards a diagnosis of MS but wants to do more tests.

EXAMINATION: MRI BRAIN W/WO CONTRAST

TECHNIQUE: Sagittal T1, axial T2, axial FLAIR, diffusion and axial T1
postgadolinium images of brain were obtained.

Contrast: 20 mL MultiHance injected from a 20 mL single dose bottle.

EXAMINATION DATE: 5/19/2015 6:17 PM

COMPARISON/CORRELATION: None

CLINICAL HISTORY: 58 years old Female with binocular vertical diplopia

FINDINGS:
Diffusion-weighted images do not demonstrate any acute abnormality.

There is a high signal intensity ovoid focus seen adjacent to the
right frontal horn. Additionally, there is a rounded focus present
within the left frontal coronal radiata. There are a few scattered
subcortical and deep white matter hyperintensities present. There is a
high signal intensity lesion seen at the ventricular margin of the
posterior left lateral ventricle. These findings are nonspecific.
Additionally, there is also a high signal intensity lesion seen
involving the left superior cerebellar peduncle.

There is no hemorrhage, acute infarct, mass, mass effect or
extra-axial fluid collection. Brain volume is normal for age.
Ventricles are normal caliber. Paranasal sinuses are clear.

IMPRESSION:
There are scattered areas of high signal intensity present within the
deep and periventricular white matter of both cerebral hemispheres.
Some of these are ovoid in appearance. Additionally, there is
involvement of the left superior cerebellar peduncle. While
nonspecific, the distribution and appearance of these lesions suggest
that this may be demyelinating in etiology. Note is made there is no
restricted diffusion or abnormal enhancement seen to suggest an acute
lesion. Other etiologies such as chronic ischemic white matter change
are considered possible but less likely.

I am no expert by any means, but from what I am understanding your MRI has shown lesions on your brain.

If they can not find any reason as to why your brain has lesions, that leaves MS as the answer. It is a diagnosis of exclusion. The doctor wants to see if your spine has any stuff going on too.

What led you to the doctor? Have you had symptoms? Whatever happens just know there is a lot you can do to better your life and situation.

I hope the best for you,

Chris

Hi Chris,
Thank you for commenting!!
I woke up one morning with double vision...experienced nausea and dizziness. Lasted about 3 weeks and slowly went away. Went to see my optometrist (was due for an eye exam) and she told me to see a neurologist. I had no idea that double vision was a serious symptom.
I had an MRI of my spine yesterday.
I am in shock. Scared. Worried about the future.

Don't be, it is not the end of the world. Diet, nutrition, exercise, medication, and lifestyle changes all WILL make your quality of life better.

And who knows, maybe you have "had MS" for a long time and you are doing very well with it. MS is very different for each individual person and maybe you have a more mild case and it will not be too bad.

Have you ever had symptoms in the past? Have you gotten an MRI before all this?

MS turned my world upside down but I turned it all into a positive. It opened my eyes to enjoying life and truly being happy. I never had this before MS threw me for a loop. We can not control what happens to us, but we can control how we handle it and how we feel about it. I was diagnosed just over a year ago. I am 26 years old (male) now and showed my first symptoms at 19 years old.

There IS life after the diagnosis, and its up to you not MS.

Chris