Interesting about what you say with spinal lesions, I have normal MRI spinal imaging but because I show clear evidence on medical examination that points to me having spinal lesions I am diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis. My neurologist maintains very strongly that they are there but imaging just can't detect them.
GAD contrast only shows lesions that have developed in the last 40 days or so. I was diagnosed based on T2 lesions, not T1 GAD enhancing lesions.
Bob
Udkas is right. Contrast, while desirable, isn't crucial. Much more important is the strength of the magnet (1.5 T minimum, 3T preferable), and that the MS protocol is used. That means intervals of 3 mm between images, so as not to miss tiny lesions (if at all possible).
Also important is the software used in conjunction with the magnet. If it is good, then an MRI done without contrast, using MS protocol, should show what's going on in the brain's white matter.
Spinal imaging is a different story. Even state-of-the-art imaging can miss lesions in the spinal cord. If the brain clearly has lesions, neuros are more likely to believe that spinal lesions also exist, based on symptoms but without MRI evidence.
ess
If you have lesions there they should show up without the contrast, the contrast is used to highlight active lesions, so they know if they are increasing in size etc. sometimes it can help detect small active lesions, but there is a very small window of time between attacks for using Gadolinium so I would not be too concerned that they have not used the contrast, it is prob better if they do one with and without contrast.
The strength of the machine can the important thing,
Good luck with getting some answers.
Cheers,
Udkas
IF you go up to the health pages on this site you can read all about MRI with contrast etc. top right hand corner there is an icon that says health pages.