MRI for dummies

[KarenB]

Trying to figure out some of the terminology on son's MRI (and maybe others have same issues). Perhaps someone could put it into terms the typical layperson could understand?

"Multiple punctate foci of abnormal signal within the subcortical white matter" (the only part of that phrase I sort of understand is subcortical white matter")

"Mildly prominent ventricles"

"Increased T2/FLAIR weighted signal"

"mild amount of abnormal signal within the maxillary antra bilaterally"

"severe amount of abnormal signal within the ethmoid air cells bilaterally" (is that sinuses??)

 

[epileric]

Here are a couple of online medical dictionaries. They should help enable you to look up what you need.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mplusdictionary.html

http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/

 

[Nakamova]

Punctate foci are 'lesions' or calcifications in the brain tissue, typically caused by unknown trauma to the brain or conditions where demyelination of brain tissue occurs (such as MS). Some punctate foci are associated with normal aging process.

Ventricles are areas in the brain that contain cerebral-spinal fluid. "Mildly prominent" just means that they are slightly bigger than normal.

"Increased T2/FLAIR weighted signal" is a technical term referring to the pulse sequence/contrast used for the MRI process. T2-weighted images are the most sensitive used for detecting brain pathology.

The maxillary and ethmoid areas are the sinuses. Many children show abnormal MRI signals in the para nasal sinuses or sinusitis, so this is only relevant if your son is having sinus-related issues.

 

[KarenB]

Thanks guys, that is most helpful. That MRI was taken when Jon was in hospital and yes, he did have a sinus infection at time. The neurologist didn't use the term "lesion or calcifications" == just said the white matter issues were "old" -- (how do they know if it's old or new?)

Could punctate foci be caused by lack of oxygen at birth? He did have that. He was born at 35 weeks and in ICU for 3 weeks with transient leukemia (a Down Syndrome thing) and other serious issues.

His first seizure was at age 1, following a bump to the head (CT scan was ok then) -- his doctors have always said that bump was a trigger, not the cause of the seizures. The bump happened when his Nanny was dressing him after his bath -- she was holding him up on the bathroom counter, and when she pulled up his pants, he fell forward and hit his forehead on the mirror. It wasn't a particularly bad bump (I was there at the time)

I always wondered if he had Celiac Disease (more common in DS kids) because he had chronic diarrhea, which got worse when we were living in the US, than in Asia (where he was on a rice based diet). We had him checked for that before starting ketogenic diet, but it came back negative. But his neurologist said we should avoid gluten products if he ever goes off the diet. I think Celiac can cause calcifications??

That's the only possible causes of brain trauma I can think of. He does have Down Syndrome and his MRI also said he had cavum septum pellucidum (I figured that one out on my own) - which is sometimes linked with seizures and developmental delay.