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MRI Results Are Attached. Could Any Doctor Explain The Terms.
Hi, I am a 41 year old female. I had an MRI and want to understand further the results given. Findings were as follows-
'...multiple T2/FLAIR hyperintensities particularly distributed in subcortical white matter tract distributions. There are a few scattered periventricular T2/FLAIR hyperintensities. The number of lesions is much greater than expected for simple age related changes only..."
"There are multiple subcortical white matter tract T2/FLAIR hyperintense foci. The patient has no significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease. With this in mind these findings are not simply attributed to advancee chronic small vessel disease. They are concerning for early manifestations of a demyelinating process such as multiple sclerosis or a vasculitis. Currently there are no classic features fulfilling McDonalds criteria for imaging confirmation of multiple sclerosis..."
I would appreciate it a great deal if you could help me understand this more.
Kind regards
'...multiple T2/FLAIR hyperintensities particularly distributed in subcortical white matter tract distributions. There are a few scattered periventricular T2/FLAIR hyperintensities. The number of lesions is much greater than expected for simple age related changes only..."
"There are multiple subcortical white matter tract T2/FLAIR hyperintense foci. The patient has no significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease. With this in mind these findings are not simply attributed to advancee chronic small vessel disease. They are concerning for early manifestations of a demyelinating process such as multiple sclerosis or a vasculitis. Currently there are no classic features fulfilling McDonalds criteria for imaging confirmation of multiple sclerosis..."
I would appreciate it a great deal if you could help me understand this more.
Kind regards
Tue, 29 Oct 2013
Hi,
Thanks for writing in.
The report says that there are many small areas of degeneration in the brain which are seen below the cortical layer and few such areas are also seen around the ventricles (fluid containing spaces). It may be noted that these findings are not as they should be seen at your age and are more than expected.
At elderly age, little amount of brain degenerative changes are seen and acceptable, but in your MRI the doctor says that is does not fit your age and clinical history.
Having said that, it may not be due to age related decreased blood flow to the brain but might be something like a neurodegenerative process.
I suggest you match the report findings with your clinical examination findings and discuss it with a neurologist. It is not multiple sclerosis by McDonalds criteria of diagnosis. Other posiibilities must be evaluated in you. Please do not worry.
Hope this helps
Thanks for writing in.
The report says that there are many small areas of degeneration in the brain which are seen below the cortical layer and few such areas are also seen around the ventricles (fluid containing spaces). It may be noted that these findings are not as they should be seen at your age and are more than expected.
At elderly age, little amount of brain degenerative changes are seen and acceptable, but in your MRI the doctor says that is does not fit your age and clinical history.
Having said that, it may not be due to age related decreased blood flow to the brain but might be something like a neurodegenerative process.
I suggest you match the report findings with your clinical examination findings and discuss it with a neurologist. It is not multiple sclerosis by McDonalds criteria of diagnosis. Other posiibilities must be evaluated in you. Please do not worry.
Hope this helps
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