Need to know what the centrum semiovale is and what it's role is

[Rose1963]

Hi,

This is my first post.  So here goes.  To make a long story short, I have MS.  Last Wednesday, 12/05 I had an MRI.  On the written results it states as follows:

8.0mm size white matter at the level of the centrum semiovale on the right.

What is the centrum semiovale and what role does it play?  How could this possible affect me?

Also:

change with deep periventricular white matter on the left at the level of the anterior roof of the left lateral ventricle of approx. 5.0 mm size.

What could this possibly mean?

I will deeply appreciate your help and knowledge in helping me to better understand these results.

[HVAC]

If you want do a new post and tell us about yourself

Alex

[Bikesms]

Eager to join forum.  Seems helpful

[ritahburke]

What happened after you went to your doctor?  What is the update on your condition now?  Thank you.  Rita H Burke

[sab12]

Hi everyone..here is my story I hope someone can help...i dont have ms..but I suffer from anxiety...i have been having these wierd dizzy whooshing feeling in my head...i dont know if its from the anxiety..but i decided to get a cat scan...everything came back normal and the doctors sent me on my way..by the way it was done in the ER...So I get home and i read the cat scan report and I notice something that worried me.. I have no idea what it means ..tried to google it ..that was no help..this is what it said : SUBCENTIMETER HYPODENSITY IN THE RIGHT CENTRUM SEMIOVALE...what does this mean ? I am so worried that is causeing me more anxiety..i  had this test done on sunday morning with my request....and im losing sleep over it...im going to see my dr this week..but if anyone can shead sum light on this...please let me know...

[Sparkysarah]

Hi Rose

I just wanted to welcome you to the most amazing forum where you have already discovered, there are some great people who will show you compassion, understanding and have incredible expertise.

I think I fall into the "compassion" group as I am a bereavement counsellor in England, but as you were diagnosed earlier than me (March 2010), you probably have a far wider knowledge of MS than me.  It sounds to me as if you have had a very frightening experience of interferons and I can understand your fear of trying Tysabri, particularly based on what happened before and your less than helpful neuro.  All I can say to you is that it seems to be that it would be worthwhile just trying to talk through your fears, maybe with your doctore before Dec 13th.  Is there any evidence that anyone else who has been allergic to interferons, may also be allergic to Tysabri, or that they have had an irreversable reaction?

If you are fully informed and decide not to proceed with this treatment are there any other alternatives? Are there any drug trials available to you? (I am on an oral drug trial in UK).  I am wondering if you have any info about Fingolimod (Gilenya?) which is now available in USA.  I feel that you need to have a further discussion with your neuro. Have you weighed up the risks of not taking any treatment against taking treament that you do not know how you will react to. There is a chance that you may not be allergic to this and it could help you.  However none of us really know if the treatment is really making a difference to the number of relapses we have unless there is a remarked reduction from before we started treatment.

I do not envy you, and can fully understand your concerns and reticence at proceeding with Tysabri. Is there an MS nurse who could give you the time to talk this through further?

We are all glad to welcome you to the forum, feel free to come and say hello or have a rant anytime and let us know how you are doing.

Cheers for now

Sarah x

[COBOB]

You might want to search "Dirty White Matter."   This is sometimes seen in in MS brains, but dirty white matter is considered to be many small punctuated lesions that makes the white matter look speckled. This is something that a Neurologist or MS Specialist may want to look at since it has been demonstrated as an atypical presentation for MS and some other neurologic diseases.

Bob

[tracey173]

PLEASE COULD YOU EXPLAIN MY MRI TEST RESULTS THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY FOCAL STRUCTURAL LESION BUT ON THE FLAIR IMAGING THERE IS JUST A SUGGESTION OF SOME RIGHT DIFFUSE BRIGHTNESS IN THE WHITE MATTER OF THE CENTRUM SEMI OVALE BILATERALLY THIS IS ALWAYS AN INTERESTING FINDING BUT ITS SIGNIFICANCE IS NOT OBVIOS THERE IS CERTAINLY NO FOCAL LESION TO SUGGEST DEMYELINATION OTHERWISE NO ABNORMALITY OF ENHANCEMENT IS SHOWN

[medic91c]

"my young daughter also has "lesions" ot T2 hpersensitivities in the same area. Hers they say are due to high doses of chemotherapy as an infant. She experiences now (12 years later) pain in all her limbs, back, headaches, visual disturbances...and the list goes on through the past 12 years. She also has these same lesions noted to frontal and occipital lobes bilateral. any one know some resource material for me?? Docs don't seem to know too much, or know how to help us!
Thnaks anyone for ANY help."

   Have simple-partial seizures been ruled out?  Lesions in they brain may generate epileptiform changes which do not necessarily result in convulsions or changes in consciousness.  The occipital lobes have a lot to do with vision and a "small seizure" occurring in that area would likely result in visual disturbances.

[canadian_mama_goose]

my young daughter also has "lesions" ot T2 hpersensitivities in the same area. Hers they say are due to high doses of chemotherapy as an infant. She experiences now (12 years later) pain in all her limbs, back, headaches, visual disturbances...and the list goes on through the past 12 years. She also has these same lesions noted to frontal and occipital lobes bilateral. any one know some resource material for me?? Docs don't seem to know too much, or know how to help us!
Thnaks anyone for ANY help.

[ladibug]

My daughter also can't take the crab drugs. Doctor thought that the Tasabri would be perfect for her. It did not turn out to be the case. She was allergic so only received the 1 dose. She is a 2 percenter. What ever reactions are listed for the smallest percent of people on most any drug is her. Kind of ran out of options so is now trying LDN.
Is currently starting three days of  solumedrol infusions,she does not do well with this either but it is needed for her three new lesions, left lateral ventricle, right centrum semiovale and left temporal lobe. Which led me to this sight because she wanted to know how these lesions affect her. Did you try the Tasabri yet.
I am glad that I found this MS Forum.

[sllowe]

Hi Rose,

It is our pleasure to have you.  Welcome to our forum.  Reading this, you've gone through so much for the past years.  I'm sorry I don't have anything to add about Tysabri, but I wish you peace with your decisions.

There is a gentleman on our forum who I think may have some things to add in terms of Tysabri research if he is around, he may chime in.  

Again, welcome, and I hope you'll be sticking around,

Be well,
SL

[Rose1963]

PS I have added this website to my favorites!

[Rose1963]

Thank everyone so much for your speedy replies.  I just found this website last night and some of you are such characters!  I was laughing so hard I nearly cried.

I was officially and quickly diagnosed the last day of June 2004 and was hospitalized the beginning of July 2004.  

Yes this a dramatic change in my MRI as of last year at about this time.  

I haven't been on any meds other than a course of oral Prednisone last year and solumedrol infusions this month.  The reason for this is because I was so allergic to interferons they nearly killed me.  I'd rather not go into that as I don't want to frighten anyone.  

This Thursday, Dec. 13th, I am supposed to go for my first Tysabri infusion.  But I just can't bring myself to do it.  So I am once again chickening out of it, this will be my 2nd time this year.  My reaction to interferons was so severe and my neuro at the time so neglected me and treated me like a mental patient, that I am scared to death to try anything else.  Two other doctors, an internal medicene doctor and an ENT both tried to concur with my neuro about my condition and he ignored them both.  Finally I got a magnifying glass, read the small print on medication pamphlet and discovered to my horror that I was allergic.  I have not met another person yet that has had the reaction that I had.  But over the course of 6 months, and having every test imaginable run on me, and a biopsy of my larynx, losing down to 108 lbs. because I could not eat due to my throat, I figured out for myself what was wrong.  

Sorry this got long.  Let me make it shorter.  Currently, I've had alot of numbness in my right hand, tingling sensations in my right arm, left arm and hand, and feet and toes.  I just woke up that way one morning.  So I had the solumedrol for it, and it's helped some.  But I know that I need to take a more progressive approach to my MS.  I'm just so scared of having a bad, irreversable reaction to Tysabri.

What I didn't mention is that I have 2 lesions on my basal ganglia also.  

Last year I had 2 black holes.  

Oh well, once again thanks for the info and I will definitely come back here quite often.

Happy Holidays everyone!  I hope you all enjoy this time of year as much as I do.

[MadVirginiaGuy]

Tried Gilenya?
Daily pill.
So far not associated with PML.
I am down to no active lesions after 31 years of MS.

[Quixotic1]

Hi, there.  Ess was correct.  the centrum (center) semiovale (semi-oval) is a large section of the white matter of the brain near the very top in a person who is upright.  It is a non-specific term for the section of white matter and it's shape as seen when you slice a brain into two halves in the plane perpendicular to the shoulders.  It is a large area which carries a huge amount of the communication nerves between different parts of each side of the brain.  No one can say exactly that it does this or that becasue it handles so much info.

It is impossible to "map" a direct correlation between where a lesion is and what symptoms it might cause.  There is an essay in the thread "MRIs, Lesions, and Symptoms" that deals with this and you might want to read it.  This thread is on one of the first two pages here.  The essay is called something like "Should You be Able to Match a Lesion for Every Symptom".

90% of the brain is not used by us and we really don't know what individual areas might do if damaged.  So, it is generally a waste of time trying to figure it out.  The same is true for the other "peri-ventricular" lesion.  Both of these are commom areas for MS lesions.

What is of more inportance is the comparison of this MRI with any earlier ones you have had to see if they are new lesions since the last one.  When was your diagnosis?

Welcome and feel free to tell us about what you have been going through.

Quix, MD (unofficial and not a neurologist)

[essdipity]

The English term for centrum semiovale is 'semioval center.'

From Wikipedia:
The semioval center is the white matter found underneath the grey matter on the surface of the cerebrum. The term is synonymous with cerebral white matter.

The cerebrum is a large part of brain. So the MRI describes an 8mm lesion there.

ess

[mooers777]

Ok, what I did was google it but I came up with so much info I can't possibly post it all. So go to www.google.com and Type in the following :
( Centrum Semiovale MS ) You will come up with things that may help you.

I am sorry I wasn't much help.

Welcome and I hope you can get the info you need!

Kathy