Seven 'big' brain lesions, three spinal. I don't know if I've had much grief from the spinal as oppose to the brain ones. How do you know what does what and what feels from where? My 'chink' is a problem in that I can't do any stooping, bending with a twist or much bending full stop. It's a sharp pain. I got stuck on my horse the other day! Couldnt throw my leg over!
No ON, just double vision when I'm tired. All started with Bell's which wasn't and TN in Jan this year. Going downhill without brakes at quite some speed.

When they refer to a finding as "incidental," they simply mean that the finding does not directly pertain to the symptoms/diagnosis that prompted the MRI scan referral. Another example of an incidental finding might be the observation that your maxillary sinuses are inflamed; that finding has nothing to do with the MS diagnosis that prompted your physician to order the MRI, but it's *there* and therefore should be reported.

In no way does "incidental finding" mean "of little importance." I recall finding a large brain tumor once while doing a cervical MRI; that was also reported as an incidental finding.

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Oh, I know. I was being a drama queen.

See, it was that Grumpy thing that threw me off.

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I had an incidental thing show up on my MRI as well. It said "there is no signal void in the paranasal sinuses and mastoids" My doctor didn't mention it to me, I just noticed it on the report so I tried looking it up. I am really confused as to what that statement means?

I'm not even sure I believe that I have SEVEN spinal lesions, mostly because it was the only MRI I ever had that was done only without contrast. It was ordered by my MS doc at the Mellen Center, after diagnosis, and even the MRI technicians were confused enought to call his office to confirm his order. I don't deal with him, just his nurse, and barely. I'd like to know the point of his ordering this MRI with no contrast.

But most of my symptoms are sensory, from tingling to numbness to shocks and pain. It makes sense that I probably have some lesions there.

'no signal void in the paranasal sinuses and mastoids' ?

says to me that your sinus cavities and mastoids are not hollow... good news... your brain has not leaked into your sinuses !!

and I'm shedding my grumpy status. Ooooh, I feel regenerated...

OOpps! I ment to type "There is signal void....
OMG, my bain has leaked into my sinuses The doctor didn't mention it so it can't be anything to worry about!!

The sinuses and mastoid air cells normally contain nothing but air, so they should be devoid of signal. If signal is present, it indicates inflammation or the presence of something which doesn't belong there. So, a signal void there is good.

You may also read references to signal void in your MRI scans of the brain; specifically, in regard to the blood vessels which comprise the Circle of Willis. Flowing blood should give no signal in these arteries (on non-contrast sequences), so you may see a comment like "vessels exhibit normal flow void."

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While we're on the subject, I have a spinal lesion question -- I know "typical" MS BRAIN lesions have specific characteristics (ovoid, location, etc.) but are there characteristics specific to spinal lesions? I don't have my report in front of me (my initial spinal MRI showed one lesion on my t-spine) but offhand, I only remember "impaired signal".

So, my question is, do spinal lesions, like brain, show characteristics specific to MS or if there was an injury, etc., would it show up on an MRI the same way? I had a really bad back injury before I was dxed and I always wondered if they just assumed the lesion was due to MS because I'd already been dxed, but if it could in fact have been caused by something else.