Oops - it posted before I even finished a sentence! As I was saying....the 3 new lesions, might have been significant had you had a recent relapse. Since I don't know your MS journey, I certainly can't say for certain. My main point is merely the tendency of physicians to keep their report to the patient very simple. Personally - I don't like it!
I hope you're doing well, and are indeed stable. Blessings to you.
I have discovered that most physicians feel that the less you tell a patient, the better. They usually tell you the most significant findings, but don't add many details, nor any peripheral information of what they believe to be clinically insignificant findings.
Sometimes they're right - patients often fret unnecessarily when they know every detail of an MRI. But it sometimes creates problems. As in your case, finding out, and not having an appropriate explanation. I've had results not revealed to me in the past - resulting in a very surprising dx of MS and a few heart conditions to boot. I get all my test results now. I don't fret. I don't borrow trouble for myself either. But I also don't get blindsided by surprise diagnosis!
Also, since the lesion load is not directly correlated with disease severity or disability, the 3 ne
Hi and welcome,
The radiologist indicates in your MRI report that you have a preexisting diagnosis of MS, and his/her 'impressions' are basically whats most relevant or whats changed since your last brain and spinal MRI's....
..point (1) notes 3 new brain lesions which is the only specific additional abnormality found in relation to MS, point (3) notes there is some mild cervical degenerative disc progression and points (2 & 4) notes there is still the 1 spinal cord lesion that was there before and the same tiny incidental meningioma that was there before.
1. Three new foci of FLAIR hyperintensity in the hemispheric white matter, as above, likely reflecting minimal progression of the patient's reported multiple
sclerosis.
*Three new foci of FLAIR hyperintensity are visualized, one adjacent to the occipital horn of the left lateral ventricle on image #15 of series #6, one posterior to the atrium of the right lateral ventricle on image #18, and one along a right frontal lobe
3. Mild progression in cervical degenerative change at C5-C6. No high-grade central canal or neural foraminal stenosis is present.
*see your spinal MRI impressions
Hope that helps......JJ