Hi, I’m new to this site and looking for a bit of help and info if anyone can help, I’ve been experiencing some symptoms for the past few years on and off, was referred to neurology a few years ago and given the all clear, symptoms like tingling, numbness in arms and legs, general aches all over and extreme fatigue returned with a vengeance and I was sent back to see a neurologist, MRI was completed in October and have just got results but not seeing neurologist again until early December. I’d be grateful if anyone could give their opinions on the MRI report and explain what it means as my GP was unable to decipher. There is some abnormal confluent T2 hyperintensity bilaterally near the trigones and extending more superiorly in the deep white matter. The appearances are entirely nonspecific, but abnormal and demyelination cannot be excluded. Remainder of the brain parenchyma is within normal limits. Normal appearances of the cervical cord and lumber spine and cauda equine. Thanks in advance Caroline
Hello Caroline, and welcome to the site
I am not a radiologist or a neuro but I can translate your MRI results into English at least 
First of all, you need to know that the brain has three basic types of matter / “stuff” in it: gray matter (which is the stuff that does the processing, encoding, “thinking”), white matter (which is the stuff that carries all the signals between different bits of gray matter) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF; the fluid that acts a bit like the oil in an engine). The outer layers of the brain are made up of gray matter. As a whole, this is called the cortex. Underneath this is white matter. White matter next to the outer layers is called juxtacortical. White matter further into the brain is called deep white matter.
The report is basically saying that your spinal MRI scans were normal, but there are some bright patches on your brain MRI. These are in both sides of your brain and go from the lateral ventricles (the lakes of CSF in the middle of the brain) and into the white matter above this. The rest of the brain looks fine.
The trigone is an area of the lateral ventricles which is tricky to describe to someone who doesn’t know the jargon. This link is the only image I could find that actually shows where it is: http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=trigone+lateral+ventricle&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1097&bih=557&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=wuGxVCXKruP5nM:&imgrefurl=http://cueflash.com/decks/Neuro_mass_differentials_from_AFIP&docid=fH6trdRG08PXVM&imgurl=http://cueflash.com/cardimages/questions/thumbnails/3/5/4553255.jpg&w=360&h=260&ei=jT6iUJybA6bL0AWTqoCgDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=505&vpy=253&dur=149&hovh=191&hovw=264&tx=149&ty=152&sig=101185534135001054417&page=1&tbnh=149&tbnw=217&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0,i:90
The report is saying that these patches are not typical of any particular condition, but it’s possible that they are due to demyelination (not sure what the “abnormal” bit means - did you miss out a word?).
I have to say that MS lesions are not usually symmetrical like this, so perhaps the radiologist had a different cause of demyelination in mind.
The report doesn’t mention your thoracic spine - the bit between your neck (cervical) and lower back (lumbar & cauda equine). I can’t imagine they scanned the top and the bottom, but not the bit in between, so you should check that the radiologist viewed these images too.
Hope this helps!
Karen x
Hi, Thanks for the explanation, I checked the report again in case I had missed something but I’ve copied it correctly. I have a feeling that i’ll go back to see the neuro to be told, sorry we have no answers, I’m at the point where I just want an explanation for my symptoms, probably a lot to ask for but here’s hoping. Thanks again for your time and expertise. X Caroline
Hi Caroline, welcome to the site. here youll find a mixed bunch of folk, wholl offer you advice, support and the odd joke ot 2!
Karen (rizzo) is our residient explainer of medi-speak! Shes done a good job on yours.
Sounds like there is stuff going on which your neuro will explain and give you his opinion about.
i doubt you`ll have to wait too long for a diagnosis.
Nice to meet you.
luv Pollx
Hi Pollz, Thanks for words,of support, I’ve got a feeling that I’ll be needing the advice, support and most defo the jokes in the coming weeks and months!! Looks like the neuro side of things is not an easy road to go down and from what I’ve been reading a lot of people have been waiting a long time to get to the bottom of their symptoms etc. Thanks again Caroline
Hi everyone, Well finally got my follow up,appointment with the neuro on 10th December, feeling a lot better and a bit like my normal self, is’nt that just typical when you go back to see the doc!!. I’m hoping that he will be able to tell me what is going on and not just leave me hanging in limbo, hope feeling better lasts for a long, long time! Caroline