Help req. from a medical professional if we have one please?
Discussion
My nine year old had a recent MRI and results were as follows:
There is an ovoid patch of signal change in right central matter just above the lateral ventricle. This may be inflammatory but it is an isolated finding and as such non-specific. Elsewhere brain is normal in appearance.
A second letter from a second opinion details as the lesion showing signs of demyelination.a
Can anyone interpret that to me please?
We received the results by letter four weeks ago and had an appt scheduled for tomorrow afternoon at 4 with a consultant from st George's. They have just called to cancel the appt as its not needed apparently. I feel sick to my stomach as I honestly thought we were facing something terrible. What is going on, can. Anyone help?
There is an ovoid patch of signal change in right central matter just above the lateral ventricle. This may be inflammatory but it is an isolated finding and as such non-specific. Elsewhere brain is normal in appearance.
A second letter from a second opinion details as the lesion showing signs of demyelination.a
Can anyone interpret that to me please?
We received the results by letter four weeks ago and had an appt scheduled for tomorrow afternoon at 4 with a consultant from st George's. They have just called to cancel the appt as its not needed apparently. I feel sick to my stomach as I honestly thought we were facing something terrible. What is going on, can. Anyone help?
I'm not an expert, but from what I understand an MRI scan looks at the lipid, water and blood composition of body. Combined with the comment about demyelination it suggests that the scan has shown up an area that has a reduced level of myelin. However, as this is a non-specific pathology term suggests that they're not 100% certain what the cause it but it's not significant. I suspect they may keep an eye on it to see if it changes with time but at the moment they don't see it as a cause for concern.
It may be worth asking for clarification of the result and the reason behind the cancelled appointment.
It may be worth asking for clarification of the result and the reason behind the cancelled appointment.
You need an explanation from someone who understands that MRI, even if it is normal (which it may be)
Your GP is HIGHLY unlikely to have the specialist experience to interpret a neurosurgical/neurological scan like that.
Therefore someone owes you a follow-up appointment, even if it is the GP to relay on the results of the scan. But then what?
Speak to the PALS office at the hospital if the trail goes dead.
Your GP is HIGHLY unlikely to have the specialist experience to interpret a neurosurgical/neurological scan like that.
Therefore someone owes you a follow-up appointment, even if it is the GP to relay on the results of the scan. But then what?
Speak to the PALS office at the hospital if the trail goes dead.
OP I feel for you. Unfortunately you're not going to get a definitive answer as to the significance of the described findings on an internet forum, and without knowing the clinical context in which the scan was requested it would be foolish of anyone of try and give any form of interpretation other than in the broadest possible sense.
Your GP might be able to help, but you might be best hassling the secretary of the referring clinician.
Out of interest, was this a private or NHS scan? The reason for asking is I would generally say that giving patients or their relatives scan reports (unless they are entirely normal) is asking for trouble, they're written in language appropriate to the level of understanding of the referring clinician and not intended to be understood by someone without that level of knowledge. Even in the private sector, whilst it's common to provide patients with a copy of the images, it is less common to provide a copy of the report for these same reasons.
Your GP might be able to help, but you might be best hassling the secretary of the referring clinician.
Out of interest, was this a private or NHS scan? The reason for asking is I would generally say that giving patients or their relatives scan reports (unless they are entirely normal) is asking for trouble, they're written in language appropriate to the level of understanding of the referring clinician and not intended to be understood by someone without that level of knowledge. Even in the private sector, whilst it's common to provide patients with a copy of the images, it is less common to provide a copy of the report for these same reasons.
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