4 MRI’s done & 1 more to go.

[Mishella69]

Last Thursday I had a brain & carotid head MRI & an EMG Test done. Today I had a carotid neck & cervical MRI done. Tomorrow I will have an EEG test done & Thursday I will have a Lumbar MRI done. I am not sure why I am not getting a Thoracic MRI done.

Anyways…test results so far:

1. EMG test…nerves are fine and muscles are fine. The only thing I have is mild Carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands not enough for my symptoms.

2. Brain MRI- Similar mild burden of periventricular and subcortical T2/FLAIR hyperintense foci. No new or enhancing lesions identified. No infratentorial lesions identified.

Grossly normal flow-related signal in the major intracranial arteries and dural venous sinuses.

No suspicious osseous lesions.

IMPRESSION:

Similar mild burden of periventricular and subcortical T2/FLAIR hyperintense foci. No new or enhancing lesions.

3. Brain MRI from 2020 (just found results)-

A few non specific parenchymal FLAIR hyperintensities are seen some which radiate perpendicularly away from the ventricles. These may represent sequelae of a demyelinating process, sequelae of chronic migraines, vasculitis, early arteriosclerotic changesA few non specific parenchymal FLAIR hyperintensities are seen some which radiate perpendicularly away from the ventricles. These may represent sequelae of a demyelinating process, sequelae of chronic migraines, vasculitis, early arteriosclerotic changes in the appropriate context versus other etiologies.

IMPRESSION:

A few nonspecific, punctate FLAIR hyperintensities, as described above.

4. MRI Angio Head- FINDINGS: Left vertebral artery ends in PICA right vertebral artery widely patent, basilar artery widely patent, posterior cerebral arteries widely patent, anterior and middle cerebral arteries patent, scattered diffuse mild atherosclerotic plaquing.

IMPRESSION: ATHEROSCLEROTIC PLAQUING NO LARGE VESSEL OCCLUSION OR

SIGNIFICANT STENOSIS

LEFT VERTEBRAL ARTERY TERMINATES IN PICA MEASUREMENTS WERE OBTAINED AS PER NASCET CRITERIA

5. MRA NECK: The visible portion of aortic arch is unremarkable. There is antegrade flow within common carotid and cervical vertebral arteries. There is a right dominant vertebral arterial system. Left vertebral artery is hypoplastic and appears to terminate at the PICA. There is no significant cervical segment vertebral artery stenosis.

There is no significant plaque at the right bifurcation and proximal ICA. The right internal carotid stenosis is estimate at 0 % by NASCET criteria. There is no significant plaque at the left bifurcation and proximal ICA. The left internal carotid stenosis is estimate at 0 %

by NASCET criteria.

Note: Vascular diameter stenosis by NASCET criteria is calculated by comparing narrowest luminal diameter with the distal luminal diameter as a denominator. Diameter stenosis in excess of 50% is considered hemodynamically significant.

IMPRESSION:

NO HEMODYNAMICALLY SIGNIFICANT CERVICAL CAROTID STENOSIS.

Sooooo, a few things stick out but mostly ok I think. BUT why do I have every symptom!!

I know you all aren’t Drs or anything but does anything jump out for you??

Thank you!

[Mishella69]

Oops I forgot 1 more MRI

6. MRI C-spine- FINDINGS: Mild loss of intervertebral disc space height and disc bulge at C3-4, C4-5, C5-6, resulting in no significant spinal canal narrowing. Mild bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis at C4-5 and C5-C6. Remaining cervical spine levels without disc herniation, spinal canal or neuroforaminal stenosis. No fracture, subluxation or pathological marrow signal is present. The cervical spinal cord has normal morphology.

There is a very subtle T2 signal abnormal focus in the left cord at the level of C7, best seen on axial imaging. Otherwise, normal cord signal throughout the cervical spine. The cerebellar tonsils are in normal position. No epidural or paraspinal mass or hemorrhage is present. There is no abnormal soft tissue enhancement.

IMPRESSION:

Mild mid cervical spondylosis.

Subtle cord signal abnormality on the left at the level of C7, which could represent an old demyelinating plaque. No evidence of active demyelination.

[NorasMom]

Don't give up. There is something wrong with you. Maybe it's not MS; maybe it is. But if this neuro isn't willing to keep looking for answers, then find another. It'll get more frustrating and may take a lot of time, but eventually you'll get there.

I passed two Evoked Potentials many years apart. I passed all my MRI's. I saw multiple neurologists. When I finally got my diagnosis, I'd had consistent symptoms for well over 40 years, and my neuro felt that the lesions that had finally appeared in my brain were older than my previous MRI, which was supposedly clear.

I have serious issues with the diagnostic criteria that's in place right now, and I think they're focused on the wrong tests. Just keep on fighting for answers no matter how long it takes.

[twooldcrows]

wow that is a lot of tests

[ahrogers]

Looks like they are doing lots of tests to help figure it out. I agree you should have an MRI of thoracic spine since the brain and cervical spine both had areas of possible demyelination. If possible try to have MRIs on a 3T machine, it gets better pictures. They can also control how thin the "slices" of the images. My most recent MRI was done with 1 millimeter thinner slices and there was a spot the last one didn't see but was probably there and too small to see with the bigger slices.Have you had a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) yet? Make sure they draw blood at the same time. It looks for something that isn't normally in the cerebral spinal fluid but they have to make sure it doesn't show up in the blood at the same time.

Another common test is evoked potentials.

I hope you get answers soon!

[Mishella69 in reply to ahrogers]

no I haven’t had a Spinal Tap. Also I believe they only did a 2T for the MRIs. I got a call from my drs office yesterday and they said one lesion is showing but not MS it’s Migraines and the other MRI the girl was confused on the Drs notes so she will call back but no call yet. My lumbar spine MRI was denied by Medicaid and I don’t understand why since the other 4 was approved but they are working on it. Thank you for recommendations! I appreciate it!

[Tazmanian]

Good luck