What else could this MRI be?

What else could this MRI be?

Hi,

I'm currently going crazy trying to understand my wife's MRI results.
She has do another MRI in a month and then we will get a more certain
result. My wife's left arm has been numb for a year now. She recently
did an MRI and this what we got back

MRI CERVICAL SPINE

TECHNIQUE:
Sagittal T1W and T2W images have been obtained as well as axial GRE
images

Report:
Straightening of the cervical alignment is noted, consistent with
muscle spasm. The vertebral body heights and intervertebral disc
spaces are well preserved. No vervical disc herniation or foraminal
stenosis can be seen.

However, at the leve of C4 and C4-5 intervertebral disc space, a
moderate-sized area of increased T2W signal intensity is seen on the
right side of the cervical cord. It measures about 0.4 X 0.4 cm in
it's maximal cross-section dimensions and involves a length of about
0.7 cm. The reaminer of the cervical cord appears unremarkable. No
cord enlargement is seen.

IMPRESSION:
A small to moderate focus of abnormal increased T2W signal intensity
is seen on the right side of the cervical cord, at about the level of
C4. The differential diagnosis would include multiple sclerosis and
transverse myelitis in this young age group. A tumor is also not
entirely excluded. A follow-up MR scan of cervical spine, with the
use of IV Gadolinium enhancement would be usuful in furthur assessment
of MR of the thoracic spine should also be obtained at that time to
assess the remainer of the spinal cord. MR of the head is also
recommended to assess for the possibility of multitple sclerosis.


Based on this what are the chances that this is actually MS? If not
what else could it be? Could it be something simple? Could be a
another disease or maybe she had it her entire life? Any other disease
that is more curable than MS?

We just got this 3 days ago and I guessing in my head for another
month is really painful.

Your feedback is greatly appreciated :(.

Thank you
M.

Re: What else could this MRI be?

could be a number of things. you probably won't know if it's actually
ms untill they do the gadolinium enhancement. it looks like they
didn't use any contrast on the scan. all this is really saying is
that there's something there that's probabaly not supposed to be
there. it could be normal for her, or not normal. that's why they
recomended a follow up scan. the best person to talk to about this
report would be the ordering physician. ms and other disorders
usually are not strictly diagnosed by a radiology procedure (mri, ct,
ultrasound). usually they need to also have blood work, eeg, ekg, or
any other number of tests.

good luck

papa ct

Re: What else could this MRI be?

papa smurf schrieb:
> could be a number of things. you probably won't know if it's actually
> ms untill they do the gadolinium enhancement. it looks like they
> didn't use any contrast on the scan. all this is really saying is
> that there's something there that's probabaly not supposed to be
> there. it could be normal for her, or not normal. that's why they
> recomended a follow up scan. the best person to talk to about this
> report would be the ordering physician. ms and other disorders
> usually are not strictly diagnosed by a radiology procedure (mri, ct,
> ultrasound). usually they need to also have blood work, eeg, ekg, or
> any other number of tests.
>
> good luck
>
> papa ct
>

And of course obtain cerebrospinal fluid (wasn't mentioned and is still
important part of the diagnosis, even with beautiful MRI images :) ).

B.T.W.: an MRI of the head wasn't suggested to her?

Christoph