What Do These Following MRI Findings Indicate?

Posted on Wed, 23 Nov 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 23 Nov 2016 Answered on

Wed, 14 Dec 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Hello I had two MRIs that indicated white lesions in brain and cervical .

As a result I had a spinal tap to determine if i have MS. Attached are the findings, can you please let me know what they mean? And your recommendations

Answered by Dr. Ishu Bishnoi (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
CSF analysis interpretation

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX thanks for asking from HCM.

I can understand your concern. Your CSF findings are suggestive of

- Slightly increased CSF protein
- Traumatic CSF tap as red blood cells (150/mm3)
- Normal leucocyte count

It is not suggestive of Multiple sclerosis as it is incomplete study. In MS, the CSF shows

- Raised level of IgG and IgG index (CSF IgG value/serum IgG value)

- On electrophoresis, it shows M band i.e. monoclonal protein band.

So you should ask your doctor to get complete CSF study done.

If interpreting the current CSF findings, only raised CSF proteins could be due to

- Old resolving infection
- Normal finding
- Multiple sclerosis
- Renal disease
- Some mass lesion in brain
- Amyloidosis
- Multiple Myeloma

SO there are a variety of causes of raised CSF proteins. You should not worry about all. Better ask your doctor

- What is he suspecting based on clinical findings?

- If there is weakness, tingling, get nerve conduction velocity of involved limb

- What is the location of white lesions in brain? Periventricular lesions are generally found in MS.

Hope it will give you some insight. If still in doubt, do let me know.
Thanks. Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. REMY KOSHY