MRI result

[Duckling13]

Hi

I just saw my MRI scan (brain) at my neurology app. There was a thumb print size white patch which is apparently typical of mild MS. I'd really appreciate some of your opinions please.

I'm having more scans, of my brain, neck and I think spine and a lumbar puncture.

My question is how many of these patches are needed to diagnose MS so I won't need the lumbar puncture? I really expected to be told it's nothing and to go away.

I'm a little in shock and don't really know much about it at all. It still could be nothing I suppose.

Thanks for reading.

[busybee11]

My LP has been completed! And it was not bad at all!! Like the nurse told me, it was just the fear of the unknown. It's not something I'd want to do every weekend, but it was definitely nothing like I had imagined it! The doctor was super friendly, so were the nurses! It took a long time because they had me stay there an hour before and after (before to complete lab work and after to make sure I felt okay), but the procedure was almost pain-free! Now I just have to wait for results...

Thanks for your comments!

Ashley

[cjtmn]

I just wanted to let you know that I had my first LP yesterday. The procedure was painless - honestly, the hardest part was lying flat for the entire day/night!

Best of luck to you,
Cheryl

[kwarendorf]

Google is not always your best source :-)

[busybee11]

Thanks, Kyle! I have been Googling it way too much! ;)

[kwarendorf]

Hi BB -

Try not to read too much about LP's. What is available is generally terrifying :-) Done by a practiced professionl they are not always a big deal. I've had 3 and had no problems of any kind with any of them :-)

Kyle

[busybee11]

I thought it was going to be nothing too when I went to the doctor, but my MRI was abnormal and "was consistent with MS". The doctor's office called me at 7:00 p.m. right before July 4th weekend. I was in complete shock. I hadn't had any major symptoms other than the one episode. I am still working on finding answers as well. I have a lumbar puncture in just a few short days, which terrifies me!!! I know it's tough, but hang in there!

[Duckling13]

Thank you for that information. It's made it a lot easier to understand!

[kwarendorf]

Hi D - Welcome to the group.

The MacDonald Criteia is the current measure for diagnosing MS. Among other things it addresses MRI findings. The two things it looks for are disemmination in space and dissemination in time.

Dissemination in space means that lesions appear in at least two different areas of the central nervous system. This may mean lesions in more than one region of the brain, a lesion in the brain and one in the cervical spine etc. Dissemination in space can be proven in a single MRI.

Dissemination in time means that the lesions appeared at least 30 days apart. This proves that there is ongoing disease activity. You can prove dissemination in time with one MRI session if the first images are taken without contrast and a second set is taken after a contrast agent has been administered. In the presence of the contrast agent, new lesions will enhance (glow more brightly) than old lesions. So if you have some lesions that enhance and some that don't you prove dissemination in time.

Bot the space and time components are generally required to get a diagnosis. It sounds like your doc is ordering the right tests, assuming your MRI's are being done with contrast. The 3 areas that should be looked at are the brain, the cervical spine (neck) and thoracic spine (chest).

Lumbar punctures, aka spinal taps, are used to confirm other findings. If the rest of your MRI's cnfirm the MS suspicion, the LP can confirm the dx by showing that there is inflammation in the central nervous system. Try  not to believe all of the horror stories ou read about LP's. I've had 3 nad never had the slightest problem :-)

Keep asking us llots of questions!

Kyle