Another ? about Lesions

[wally8]

Hello again
I was just wandering about all those non specific lesions on my brain that they cant put down to ms because thay are not in the spot for ms.

i have read many posts on here that mention these non specific lesions...my questoin is, after someone is dx with having ms are these non specific lesions put down to being caused by ms.

Are ms lesions found in all parts of the brain, but they can only dx on lesions found in certain common to ms places.

Thanks
Kathy

[rdmc]

Speaking personally, I have some non-specific lesions which we don't think are MS. Then I have MS lesions. The non-specific ones could be age related, BP related, or whatever. My symptoms correlate with a particular lesion that is definitely MS. However, you can't always match symptoms to lesions.

I believe you can have MS lesions anywhere...but they tend to hang out in certain areas, and are more likely MS if found in those areas.

[jifr]

...just a funny thing that a MS specialist once said to me (which might correlate here)...

The corpus collosum is like a buffett for "nerve munchers". Yes, he used the term "nerve munchers".

Lesions in that area, called Dawson's fingers, are apparently a specific tell-tale sign of demylenation.

Maybe that's why they think your lesions are non-specific and not clearly indicative of demylenation.

"Nerve munchers" like to hang out and munch in certain places. :-)

Plus - you can have lesions "just because". Migraines, TIAs, etc. I think there is a study out there somewhere that says some number of people have non-specific brain lesions with no indications of anything at all. (I didn't want to quote the number because I don't have the facts in front of me but I recall reading it somewhere once).

[SNOOPY]

Originally Posted by wally8

Are ms lesions found in all parts of the brain, but they can only dx on lesions found in certain common to ms places.

Lesions, in MS, can be found anywhere within the Central Nervous System (CNS) which includes the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves.

The term "lesions" means an abnormalty and is used, medically, differently depending on what the condition maybe. As an example: skin cancer is referred to as a lesion.

There can be different causes/conditions for brain lesions.

after someone is dx with having ms are these non specific lesions put down to being caused by ms.

I have been diagnosed a long time. I have only a few brain lesions and they are considered non-specific. Common sense and my medical history would indicate my non-specific lesions are related to MS.

[wally8]

Thanks for the replies everyone
My first mri showed all the non specific lesions, that was in 2006. I just had another one because of new sx and now i have a few that are suspicious of ms including one in the corpus collosum.

I have heard of dawsons fingers before but did not know they were specific to the corpus collosum.

I thought they were called that because of their presentation ( as in large finger like). The one in my corpus collosum just looks like the others in my brain, would that mean it is not dawsons fingers

Thanks
Kathy

[Alicious]

My neuro told me that while non specific lesions can appear in many places in the brain, if they are in the corpus callosum, they only get there because of a disease process. They don't get there from aging, etc. It could be a disease other than MS causing the lesion, but regardless, it is because of disease, so they take those very seriously.

[wally8]

Thanks Alicious,
Thats probably why my neuro has ordered a lumbar puncture for me,I've gone from non specific to very specific but still have very mild sx. All my tests have come back normal except for the MRI, and this is my 3rd bout of weird and wonderful sx over a period of 8 years.
Time will tell I will hopefully know more mid June.
Cheers
Kathy

[FL_Jhawk]

I have the non-specific foci that was more than expected for a person of my age. My neuro and I quickly went though some of the MRI scans and we didn't see any lesions, but a large foggy patch that the radiologist said was areas of demyalinization.

The neuro decided I had MS as my symptoms were consistent with MS. He belives my spinal tap was negative as I was in the early stages. I do have the fatigue, leg heaviness, numbness and all, but have not exhibited any hugging or ON. My nerve conduction test and evoke potentials test show mild nerve degeneration. Overall, my symptoms are mild still.

I have the belief that the non-specific type of MS has some difference with the more normal MS regarding symptoms and progression, and maybe even treatment. But I am no doctor or MS researcher.

[Dayna]

This is an awesome site and it will tell you where MS lesions are commonly found in Multiple Sclerosis. Extremely helpful!

http://www.radiologyassistant.nl/en/4556dea65db62