"PATHOLOGY OF MS

The pathology is characterized by multifocal lesions, the MS plaques. The usual evolution of the MS plaque is s follows: in the acute phase, activated mononuclear cells, including lymphocytes, microglia, and macrophages destroy myelin and to a variable degree, oligodendroctes. Myelin debris are picked up by macrophages and degraded. At an early stage, macrophages contain myelin fragments; later, myelin proteins, and, at the end, lipids from chemical degradation of myelin lipids. This evolution takes a few weeks. With time, gliosis develops, and plaques reach a burned-out stage consisting of demyelinated axons traversing glial scar tissue. Remaining oligodendrocytes attempt to make new myelin. If the inflammatory process is arrested at an early phase, plaques are partially remyelinated. In more advanced lesions, remyelination is ineffective because gliosis creates a barrier between the myelin producing cells and their axonal targets. The pathological process may be arrested at any time, sometimes after partial demyelination."

http://www.neuropathologyweb.org/cha...apter6aMS.html

I'm not sure what other diseases could cause lesions in the brain that might appear "burned-out" ... strokes?, aging? etc.?, but it sounds like they originally predicted MS based on symptoms and/or the results of her first MRI (which showed these suspicious lesions).

The next course of action is usually to wait 3 - 6 months, to try to determine "dissemination in time and space" ... which basically means another MS-like attack, or evidence of neurological change in the next MRI.

The reason he is probably backing away from a MS dx at this time, is there has not been change. That doesn't mean to say there might not be in the future, in which case MS could be put back on the table as a consideration (probably dx at that point, with the right evidence) .... but for now, it is being shelved.

Cherie