Brain mets - white matter on MRI?

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I had an MRI on brain because of numbness in foot/leg - suspected mini stroke.

It showed an abnormal amount of white areas.  The stroke doc thought maybe MS.  I am just wondering if it might be brain mets.

Has anyone with brain mets seen their brain scan?  Did the cancer show as white or black areas?

Thanks.

Comments

  • gns
    gns Member Posts: 5
    edited January 2010

    "white matter changes" are not usually mets.

    They are "demyelinating diseases"  like MS or other things.

    Good luck, and I hope it is nothing serious! 

  • moonwolf
    moonwolf Member Posts: 130
    edited January 2010

    Thanks - that's reassuring.  I also have OCD so it could be to do with that.  I think the demyelinating thing comes into that.

  • chainsawz
    chainsawz Member Posts: 3,473
    edited January 2010

    I have brain mets, and I asked the neuro team if they were wrong thinking that's what they saw on the scan....maybe I had something else or a rock..LOL!!  They assured me when it is brain mets it is very clear to them.  My spots were black on the MRI.  I hope they find out those white areas are from a benign condition!  

  • florencedonna
    florencedonna Member Posts: 131
    edited January 2010

    If it is white matter lesions, it might be a totally normal finding.  A neurologist will know whether you have more white matter lesions than normal for your age.  I think they are like tiny scars.  Lyme disease and migraines can also cause white matter lesions.

    Good Luck, Donna

  • moonwolf
    moonwolf Member Posts: 130
    edited February 2010

    Thanks all.  I was told that I have more than is normal for my age, but it looks like it's not cancer as long as they are not black, so that's good.

    All the best.

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