About a year ago I started having periodic blurry vision. It would come and go so I didn’t think much more into it. Then about 5 months ago I started feeling dizzy and remained that way. Then the tips of my fingers on my left hand went numb. The numbness progressed through my hand, up my arem and down my left side to my waist. I was admitted into the hospital where they found a lesion in my cervical spine and a small one in my brain. I had a spinal tap which came back negative for MS. However, my neurologist has told me that the negative result this time doesn’t rule out MS. I just had another MRI with and without contract and I am trying to figure out what it means. Please help. I have pasted the results below.
Again appreciated is a hyperintense lesion within the leftward aspect of medulla (this was previously described within the pons).
It is unchanged in size measuring roughly 5 mm. No enhancement of that lesion is appreciated.
Again seen is focal thickening of the cervical cord posterior to the C2 vertebral body. Degree is unchanged at approximately 9 mm.
There is continued hyperintense T2 signal within the cervical cord at that region suggesting edema. However, the degree of T2 signal has decreased. In addition, the enhancement seen within that lesion previously is no longer present. Overall, no enhancing lesions within the cervical cord are appreciated.
Prevertebral soft tissues are unremarkable in appearance.
Hiya, I’m not an expert by any means, but, my understanding is this. The lesions preciously seen are still there and have not changed, except that the one in your spine is no longer enhancing (not active/inflammed). There is a mention of edema (swelling) in the spinal cord, not sure what that means? All other tissues were normal. I’m not sure what you neuros interpretation of this will be, like I said no expert! Have you got a follow up appointment to discuss these results? There is a ‘sticky’ post at the top of this forum, called beginners guide to the brain and MRI, it might help make sense of things a bit more. Hth.
Please get your B12 checked. Defiency in that vitamin can lead to lesions in the spinal cord (posteria, were yours is). The other area which B12 can attack is the PONS (you mentioned this too).
I have a lesion on the spinal cord (posteria) which was seen in MRI in 2011. After clear lumbar punctures they told me I had delayed radiation myelopathy from treatment I had in 1990. Anyway now they think it could be related to B12 and I am on injections every week. Beware the standard B12 tests misses loads of people and is unreliable. My serum level was OK but when they checked ative B12 they realised there was a problem. As soon as I started B12 numbness went away but spasticity has remained - possibly improved .
If you have a negative LP then they should look at all possible alternatives. If your LP is negative then the immune system is not active in your CNS - fact! MS is a disease were the immune systems is active in your CNS.