Are those supposed to be there??? Radiologists, docs pref.?

Question

I had a brain mri a few days ago and got a copy of it for nuerologist I see in a few weeks and it turns out mri's on cd are like the proverbial Pandora's box for me and I couldn't not look at it. Obviously not being medically trained in any way most of the pics meant nothing to me but I did find one I found a bit disturbing. I know I should just sit on my hands and wait for the nuerologist appt in three weeks but I can't and I'm wondering if someone with experience reading these can tell me if the two (three?) white spots towards the front of this image are normal or whether I should be concerned. BTW please don't post just to tell me I shouldn't be looking at the images or that I shouldn't ask questions like this on this site. I already know these things

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t154/staciem82/whitedots.jpg

Answer 1

Wait  for someone qualified to read it.I know I would just be guessing.I'm is saying this because I had a breast x-ray they sent a letter saying found something . They had lost previous x-rays.So when I get there 2 weeks later they found the earlier one said saw it was scar tissue .

Answer 2

Yes, you should be worried about these things. By chance are they checking you for MS? Do you have problems with concentration or remembering things? I'd like to know what the neurologist says.

Answer 3

have the neurologist explain what the MR shows at the appointment.

Answer 4

Those are central point artifacts, basically focal dots of increased signal in the center of an image. It is caused by a constant offset of the DC voltage in the receiver. After fourier transformation, this constant offset gives the bright dot/s on an image. Should a second MRI scan be taken ( or the rest of the same scan images be reviewed ), those focal dots will not be appearing on the image.

Overall, the brain is normal. There is no case of MS.

Don't Sweat For Nothing !

Answer 5

Sadly, I doubt that radiologists or doctors lurk here on the Yahoo boards. I am sure they have more ways to spend their valuable time. I know you are impatient and want to know the diagnosis right away, but I am afraid you will have to wait.

Answer 6

Really need to know your age. Most people over 60 have a few high-signal areas. The significance is debatable- some feel they represent small infarcts ( tiny strokes).

If you are young, I would need to see the entire scan, and know something about the reason the scan was done. You cannot make a diagnosis from imaging alone- it is the whole constellation-history, symptoms, findings on exam, AND diagnostic studies.( more than one study may be needed)

These small areas may be of no significance at all, or may represent something to be concerned about.  Post the rest of the scan, give a little history, and maybe someone can give you a reasonable answer.  The Neurologist is the best person to interpret the meaning- he knows the whole story, and no one on YA does.  Sorry I could not give you a definite good-bad answer.

Answer 7

I am not a doctor or radiologist, but I have studied quite a lot about the brain in my field of study.  It is impossible for me to tell you exactly what you have (because I truthfully have no idea), but do you have a lot of migraine headaches?  I know a professor taught me that white spots can indicate migraine headaches.  It may be something totally different, but that was my first thought.  I know waiting for a diagnosis like this can be nerve-racking, and I hope it ends up being nothing serious.