White spots on frontal lobe

[Lauren1025]

I posted earlier with a list of my symptoms and tests. I was wondering if anyone could give me some insight. I have 3 white spots on my left frontal lobe and have been told that the spots cannot mean ms because of where they are located? Is this true?

[wbroadrick]

I had lesions in areas not typically associated with MS at first, and my lumbar puncture came back clear so my local neurologist suggested I see a neurologist working in MS research ( I had options of Vanderbilt, UAB and Emory).   They ultimately confirmed my diagnosis.  

[Lauren1025]

Thanks for your input. I have not had any visual testing or spinal MRI. I got for my spinal tap next Tuesday which my neurologist said will be the final testing for the MS. The neurologist I see is not informative at all and I really had no idea what questions I was to ask while at my follow up appointments. He basically said that he believed it was some type of neuropathy before my MRI and after the MRI is when he mentioned getting a spinal tap, but left the choice up to me. Although I do not really want to get this done, I felt like this needs to be either ruled out or actually is the case. I've been dealing with these symptoms for 3 years now and have had the pain in my elbows and fingers w/ weakness for 1 year almost non stop. It's very frustrating and I really hope they can figure out the cause of all this, so I can be medicated or treated properly

[supermum_ms]

Hi Lauren,

Unfortunately, having lesions in the frontal lobes and no where else still doesn't actually mean you can't have MS, because there is no single test to rule in or rule out MS with 100% confidence but that location and with none lighting up with contrast, doesn't specifically add any weight to support MS as a more likely causation either.

I had a look at the sx's you listed and abnormal test results.......

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Multiple-Sclerosis/Finding-out-if-I-have-MS/show/2168061

.......and because you do have abnormal nerve conductor tests, there would be little doubt that something is going wrong some where, though I'm not sure MS would necessarily be the more likely answer, because your sx's and test results (so far) are not particularly suggestive of the cause being central nervous system.

Just a thought.......with your abnormal nerve testing on your legs and arms, it could actually be indicating the problem is with your peripheral nervous system, as i thought it was 'more common' in pwMS for these tests to be perfectly normal and it could be a red flags leading away from MS as the cause. It might be worth exploring that thought and looking up all the conditions that do cause abnormal results like you have, something might just stand out with your sx's too.  

I did notice you didn't mention if you've had any visual testing or spinal MRI's and i think you're sx's would probably warrant some further tests, i definitely think its well worth getting because it could be important additional test evidence, all adding weight to what it is or isn't.

Cheers............JJ    

[Corriel]

Hi Lauren, I have one lesion on my left frontal lobe but understand from my neuro that it is not typical for MS. In my case, when all the testing was concluded, I was dxd with RRMS.

My neuro was also easily able to determine from my MRI that my lesions were definitely not ischemic or vascular in origin so that gave him a hint that MS may be a factor even if it did not present typically.

Corrie

[Lauren1025]

So does that mean that I could not have MS because the spots are not in the right spot? I'm new to all of this and do not get good answers from my neurologist

[kwarendorf]

Hi Lauren -  

There are some areas that are more likely when it comes to finding MS lesions. The frontal lobes are not immune, and lesions there are thought to impair cognitive abilities.

Kyle