Topic: brain mri white matter changes(MS info here too)
lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
my brain mri results said the only abnormality is "there is abnormal increased signal seen in the white matter of the hemispheres bilatterally on the T2 and FLAIR sequences"
my neurol says no way this is related to lyme because i had more than 3 weeks of abx(no comment)
he says it is probably because i have high cholesterol
radiologist did say it could be lyme.
no where on here does it mention lesions but i found an explanation online that says it is the same as lesions and possibly suggests ms...but you would have to look farther to dx ms(no discussion from my neurol or radilogist on ms)
i'm just wondering what the wording was on your mri if your llmd said it suggested lyme...also if anyone had an mri like this get more normal after lyme tx thanks. what i found as explanation is below. not sure if it is good info or not
MRI white matter lesions
Many times I get consulted by patients or their relatives when their MRI brain report reads multiple scattered white matter lesions seen. The radiologist�s report usually further reads that these can be seen in primary demyelinating conditions like multiple sclerosis or in vascular disorders. Patient�s and caregivers are naturally worried when they get this MRI report and do not know what to do and how to proceed further. So I thought that here I shall talk about these white matter abnormalities seen on the MRI. What is their significance? Do they represent evidence of multiple sclerosis?
White matter signal changes on the MRI essentially means that on the MRI, the white matter showed some scattered bright spots. White matter in the brain refers to the fiber tracts that carry information to and fro from the brain.
My first question when somebody asks me what next and what does this mean is to ask them why was the MRI done in the first place. If the MRI was done because there was a clinical suspicion of multiple sclerosis then these white matter lesions may indeed have significance and may represent radiological evidence of MS plaques. Let me explain this with an example. You go to your doctor, you have signs and symptoms that suggest MS (example you may have had an attack of optic neuritis), when the doctor examines you he is able to elict signs in the examination compatible with a diagnosis of MS, then he orders an MRI to see if you do have evidence of white matter lesions in the brain. In a case like this the presence of white matter lesions/ signal changes in the MRI is obviously important. Here it likely does suggest the presence of MS. That said and done I again want to re-emphasize that the diagnosis of MS is made on the basis of clinical history of previous attacks, CSF (spinal fluid) examination and MRI, not just on the basis of the MRI alone. Also there are certain criteria which have to be satisfied on MRI to make a definite diagnosis of MS. These radiological criteria for MS include the number of lesions on the MRI, their location and their size.
Thus it is important to remember that a person who is noted to have white matter lesions on a brain MRI does not necessarily have MS.
*** White matter lesions can be seen in numerous other conditions and they are more commonly seen as we grow older.*** The thinking behind this is that they represent microvascular ischemic changes in the brain (the smaller caliber blood vessels in the brain showing signs of ischemia or decreased blood flow). Hence these white matter abnormalities on MRI are more commonly seen in patients who have microvascular and macrovascular
***risk factors such as a history of hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol (dyslipidemia/ bad lipid profile).***
***White matter signal changes on MRI may also be seen in patients who have infectious and other inflammatory conditions.***
They have been reported in the MRI of patients with a history of migraine headaches (migraine too is a vascular disorder and that may explain the connection).
So I want to end by saying that the presence of these white matter signal changes on brain MRI has to be correlated to the history, clinical examination and other ancillary investigations. Your doctor shall help you in going about this in a methodical manner. I repeat these white matter lesions do not suggest MS in each and every case they are found."
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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jackie51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14233
posted
Why did you have the MRI? If you have lyme symptoms, then an MRI is just a test that can be used against you, IMHO.
I had white/gray lesions in mine over 25 years ago. Doc was nice enough to say he had no idea what they were, never said it wasn't lyme. He felt I would develop MS later in life. Never did, it was just lyme.
I would recommend you see an LLMD to get a real opinion on whether you have lyme. You will drive yourself crazy trying to understand your MRI and a doctor who thinks 3 weeks of abx will take care of a stubborn case of lyme.
Good luck. We got your back here, just keep pushing.
Posts: 1374 | From Crazy Town | Registered: Dec 2007
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dbpei
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33574
posted
I had 3 brain MRI's within the year following sudden severe hearing loss in one ear that I had prior to my diagnosis of Lyme Disease.
The initial MRI was done to rule out an acoustic neuroma, which is a tumor in the auditory canal. The subsequent MRI's were done to see if there were any additional lesions or to look for changes in the existing lesion.
The first MRI stated,
"White matter signal abnormality in the left centrum semiovale which shows slight enhancement following gladolinum administration. The etiology of this abnormality is not certain. Diagnostic considerations include an arteriovenous malformation, a primary white matter disease such as MS or lyme disease and low grade tumor."
The second MRI, which was done 3 months later, stated:
"Left frontal centrum semiovale ill-defined T2 hyperintense lesion is stable relative to prior exam ... Persistence of enhancement and the T2 signal change in this 3 month follow up exam weighs against diagnosis of ADEM, MS, and Lyme Disease. Etiology for... developmental venous anomaly with adjacent gliosis is favored."
The 3rd MRI report stated:
"there does not appear to be any significant change in the size or morphology of the somewhat ill-defined T2 hyperintense lesion... the stability would argue against a demyelinating or active infectious/inflammatory process and it is possible that given the brush like enhancement, it represents a developmental venous anomaly..."
So we still do not know if my lesion is because of lyme disease or if it is a vein malformation that I was born with. When I have my follow up MRI next fall, perhaps we will know. I am hoping and praying that the lesion will be gone!
Posts: 2387 | From New England | Registered: Aug 2011
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posted
In my experience with MRIs (MS/Lyme), the lesions can come and go and change in size or shape. Or become less inflamed. A girl I knew had 40 lesions in her brain, got pregnant and they went away! Anyway - they can change and go away. I'm hoping my next MRI in about a year will show a reduction, since I'm consistently attacking the Lyme now.
-------------------- dx: MS in 1998 2007 - Lyme suspected 2009 - Positive Lyme, MS worse. Now: Copaxone shots for MS gall bladder out 7/09 Ceftin, Zith, Septra LDN Acyclovir Monolaurin, DHEA, Pregnonelon, Curcumin Posts: 243 | From New Mexico | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
Mine read "hyperintensities in the deep white matter." My LP was "normal." I was told I did NOT have MS, but no explanation for the MRI result, other than possibly from migraines.
Hmmm...never had a migraine in my life that I am aware of, thankfully. What about Lyme and company and many, many neurological symptoms? Ya think?
Posts: 566 | From West Coast | Registered: May 2008
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
thank you all...i just typed a whole bunch and lost it---hands hur t too much to type again...but thank you very much ...i will try to answer soon...you really did give me helpful info
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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jackie51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14233
posted
Lymetoo--ok.
Posts: 1374 | From Crazy Town | Registered: Dec 2007
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