Opinion on Vascular Abnormalities Detection?

[handjadensmith]

Wondering the boards thoughts on this in terms of detecting vascular abnormalities, lesions and tumors. And a similar follow up question, how often should one have them? All 3 of mine have been normal over the past 7 years.Thanks,JJittery

 

[hCapitalize]

Well if you were to have a stroke tomorrow or an anvil were to fall on your head it wouldn't be.If it has been stable, you can be pretty sure that something nasty is not creeping up on you though.In fact I guess those of us who have had MRI's can be surer than those folk out there who have never had one.

 

[handjadensmith]

thanks for the reply and the humor but I guess what I am asking is how long does it take for these changes to show up? I realize this is general but, Can someone have MS without lesions for 10 years? How long does an actual brain tumor take to form? Is in fact a pending stroke visible on MRI?I ask these questions because the board here is very knowledgeable and I have given up googling!Thanks,J

 

[hCapitalize]

Well I don't know the answers to that being new to the world of MRI's myself and having to trust to the only one of my brain that has so far being taken, never mind I was worried about MS as long ago as 20 years ago when I saw my first neurologist.Since that time I have known many people with MS and it as variable as anything else, some people it affects severely, others you would not notice, notwithstanding they all had a clinical diagnosis so it is not something that is likely to be missed.

 

[ZekesTraveller]

I think an MRI is only good for a year with no sxs present. In fact I like to see a series of MRIs since data over time is much more meaningful than one instance in time. Having clear MRIs over 7 years is pretty *beep* good. What you want is an MRA not an MRI if you are looking for vascular issues.

 

[holisticdriver]

3 clear MRI's over a 7 year period?! I think its safe to say that whatever it is you seem to be concerned about (I'm guessing MS) that you don't have much to worry about, especially a tumour which would definately show on an MRI. I'm not sure if a pending stroke is visible on an MRI but isn't an stroke more to do with blood flow to the brain?Yes it is true that scars from MS damage can sometimes take years to show up in an MRI, but only in rare cases. Often people show "white spots" on an MRI who don't have MS at all so an MRI is only a part of what can help make a diagnosis of MS. I know people who sadly do suffer from MS, in none of their cases did it present itself with twitching, tremors, myoclonus etc . In fact in the one person I know who does have MS and notices her muscle twitches is more convinced she notices them purely because she is in the mind frame of "is this another MS symptom?".Out of interest why have you had all these MRI scans? has your neurologist expressed a concern of MS and is keeping an eye on the situation? or has he gave you as much a possibility of having it from every person you pass in the street? (even less likely due to the ammount of clear scans).

 

[BandersnatchF]

About 5% of MS cases don't show up on an MRI (even with contrast). Having said that, MS is a disease that is both more obvious than ALS (vision problems, or, for my two brothers, severe impairment of one side of the body) and that is often (nearly always these days) treatable. Both of my brothers had very severe symptoms at their first attack. Both are on medication now (expensive, but covered by insurance). Both are (knock on wood!) nearly symptom-free at this point.Sure, MS might change to a more progressive form in the future, but it's been 5 years for one and 10 years for the other, and both are still doing just fine. Those who worry about MS should keep in mind that, these days, you'd rather have MS than most forms of cancer (MS is less life-threatening and more treatable), and MS is far less common than cancer.