What does MS look like on a brain scan?

MS activity appears on an MRI scan as either bright or dark spots. Typical MS lesions tend to be oval or frame shaped. MS lesions can appear in both the brain’s white and gray matter. Healthcare professionals may use a chemical contrast dye called gadolinium to improve the brightness of MRI scan images.

What type of brain changes do you see in multiple sclerosis?

MS produces damage in the more heavily myelinated regions of the brain, known as white matter. MS has also been shown to affect the less myelinated regions closer to the surface of the brain, known as cortical gray matter. Damage to both white matter and gray matter structures are linked to cognitive impairment.

What symptoms do MS brain lesions cause?

Symptoms

• vision problems.
• muscle weakness, stiffness, and spasms.
• numbness or tingling in your face, trunk, arms, or legs.
• loss of coordination and balance.
• trouble controlling your bladder.
• persistent dizziness.

Does MS show up on an MRI?

MRI plays a vital role in how we diagnose and monitor MS. In fact, over 90% of people have their MS diagnosis confirmed by MRI.

What are white spots on a brain MRI?

What Are White Spots? Spots on a brain MRI are caused by changes in water content and fluid movement that occur in brain tissue when the brain cells are inflamed or damaged. These lesions are more easily seen on T2 weighted images, a term that describes the frequency (speed) of the radio impulses used during your scan.

How does MS make your head feel?

Many people with MS experience dizziness, in which you feel light-headed or off-balance, notes the NMSS. A less-common MS symptom is vertigo. When you have vertigo, you feel as though your surroundings are spinning around you, Dr. Kalb says, or that you are spinning.

Does MS tingling come and go?

It can often feel like numbness and tingling come on spontaneously. This means that it has no apparent trigger. As mentioned earlier, altered sensations like numbness and tingling are often an early sign of MS. However, these sensations can come or go at any point.