5/23 Lab and MRI results

In my previous posting, I stated I would post what the MRI results were once I acquired translation into layman's terms :)
**Thank you to Casey for his assistance with the translation.**

• Lab Work:
  More blood work was completed to test for the following: lupus, syphilis, lyme disease, vasculitis’ (autoimmune inflammation of the blood vessels), vitamin B-12, folate and thyroid problems. The results came back normal.
  
  
• MRI Cervical Spine (C-Spine) and Thoracic Spine (T-Spine) w/and without gadolinium: *Cervical=neck; Thoracic=upper back; Gadolinium= contrast agent that helps different between active and old lesions--more at the end of 5/14's post explaining gadolinum, if necessary*
  
  Results found diffuse (spread out) lesions consistent with multiple sclerosis. The contrast agent did not enhance many lesions suggesting the multiple sclerosis is not new. These images cannot tell how long these lesions have been there.
  
  
• MRI Brain w/and without gadolinium (the contrast agent):
  The brain consists of gray and white matter. Gray matter is neurons that normally do not have myelin and the while matter is white due to being covered by myelin, which is the insulator that is attacked in MS.
  
  Results found white matter lesions in the periventricular areas. Periventricular areas are the areas of white matter surrounding cerebral spinal fluid filled areas in the brain. The cerebral spinal fluid contains the inflammatory substances that are believed to cause MS. This pattern of lesions is consistent with MS.
  
  The contrast-enhanced images did show a few active/new lesions in the corona radiata, which is a connection between sensory and motor neurons in the cerebrum (top of brain) and the body's nerves.
  
  The remaining findings from this MRI are similar to the findings from the C-Spine MRI mentioned above in that the results found diffuse (spread out) lesions consistent with multiple sclerosis.