question about lesions - Bell's Palsy Message Board

babse · 12-07-2008, 10:40 AM

hi everyone,

i've been doing some research online and found this board, and i was curious if any of you knew if it is possible to have lesions on the brain without actually having m.s.? i won't go into my long story right now, but i have had 4 mri's showing lesions, yet i've also had a neurologist tell me that i do not have m.s. (this determination was based on some strength and coordination tests he performed on me in his office)

in my searches online, i have not been able to find anything else that would cause lesions other than m.s., but it is quite possible that i am not "asking" right on the search engines.

are any of you familiar with any other type of disease/infection/disorder that might cause lesions? i am sorry for just popping in here like this, but i am having a hard time finding any leads on my own.

thank you very much.

babse

MSNik · 12-07-2008, 11:35 AM

hi there. its a good question and yes, lesions can be caused by many MANY things including former head trauma, migrane headaches- and even a car accident. The term lesions, means scarring. Scarring can be very old- very recent or anywhere in between.

just because a MRI shows lesions- it doesnt have to be disease related at all.

You shouldnt be worried, unless you have seen a NEUROLOGIST who is asking you to have further testing...MS is very rarely diagnosed from just an MRI. Usually a spinal tap, EMGs or a zillion other tests are proformed. MS is a disease which is diagnosed by RULING OUT every other thing ...so many other diseases present themselves similarly to MS..Lyme disease, meningitis, Lupus, and several others come to mind.

you have nothing to worry about at this time, just because scarring is shown...but you really should take these MRIs to a Neurologist who can help point you in the right decision.

Let us know how we can help.
Nikki

libybil · 12-07-2008, 11:50 AM

hi babse!
i'm sure there are other reasons for lesions on the brain, but i don't know exactly what they are...did you ask your doctor?
LibbY

MSJayhawk · 12-07-2008, 02:04 PM

A viral infection can cause lesions. A childhood illness with fever can leave lesions that are found later in life. Why did you have a MRI? Were you having any symptoms? Were the lesions active? Old?

You are doing the right thing in seeking out the neurologist you now see. There are many tests for which to test for MS. Before MS a myriad of possible causes must be determined. I read about "Radiologic Isolated Syndrome" (RIS). Studies have shown that RIS is increasing, that is, being discovered by MRIs being run for other tests. Researchers have determined that these RIS patients (those they follow) are 80% likely to develop new lesions and 21% go on to have a neurological attack. RIS patients have no MS Symptoms......Hmmmmm. You might discuss RIS with your neurologist.

I truly hope you will be fine. Keep asking questions!!!

babse · 12-07-2008, 07:49 PM

oops! sorry, somehow i posted that twice..