My 3rd MRI Report

4-8-95 MRI at Albany Medical Center\Multiple Sclerosis Clinic

Techinal Factors:
1.5 Tesla magnetic imaging of the Brain was performed with sagittal T1, axial T1 and axial dual echo T2 images. Sagittal T2 weighted images.

Exam: MRI Brain

Right half of Brain: Midsagittal section
Cerebral Interior - Left Click For Big Image With Links - Right Click For Larger Image
by: Carol Donner
  • A 9.0 mm Plaque is located in the PosteroLateral aspect of the left side of the Pons just ventral to the Middle Cerebellar Peduncle.

  • A questionable punctate Lesion is identified in the left Lateral Cerebellar Hemisphere.

  • Punctate Lesions are identified within
  • The Superior White Matter of both Cerebral Hemispheres
  • Another 6.0 mm Lesion is identified within the Right Basal Ganglia White Matter.

  • On the sagittal T2 weighted images, small lesions are noted within the Corpus Callosum.

Merck Manual
1992 - 16th Edition
#12-00
(Albany Public Library
Reference Desk)

Multiple Sclerosis

    Pathology

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Plaques or islands of DeMyelination with destruction of both Oligodendroglia and PeriVascular Inflammation are disseminated through the CNS, primarily in the White Matter, with a predilection for the Lateral and Posterior Column (esp. in the Cervical and Dorsal regions) the Optic Nerves and PeriVentricular Areas.

Tracts of the MidBrain, Pons and Cerebellum also are affected, and Gray Matter in both Cerebrum and Cord may be affected, Cell bodies and Axons usually are preserved, especially in early Lesions.

Later, Axons may be destroyed, usually in the Long Tracts, and Fibrous Gliosis gives the Tracts their "sclerotic appearance". Both early and late Lesions may be found simultaneously. Chemical changes in Lipid and Protein constituents of Myelin have been demonstrated in and around the Plaques.

Mental

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Apathy, lack of judgment, or inattention may occur. Emotional Lability is common and with widespread mild signs can lead to the incorrect impression of *Hysteria*.

Euphoria occurs in many patients, but in others a reactive Depression is present. Sudden weeping or laughter indicates that CorticoBulbar Pathways of Emotional Control are involved.

Charcot's Triad
(Nystagmus, Intention Tremor, & Scanning Speech) is a common Cerebellar manifestation in advanced disease. Mild Dysarthria may result from Cerebellar damage, disturbance of Cortical Control, or injury to the Bulbar Nuclei.

Course

The course is highly varied and unpredictable and in most patients, remittent. At first, months or years of remission may separate episodes, especially when the disease begins with Retrobulbar Neuritis, but usually the intervals of freedom grow shorter, and eventually permanent, progressive disability occurs.

Remissions have lasted > 25 years. However, some patients have frequent attacks and are rapidly incapacitated; in a few, particularly when onset is in middle age, the course is progressively and unRemittingly downhill, and occasionally fatal within a year.

Three Major Components of the Motor System

  • The CorticoSpinal (Pyramidal Tracts)
    Pass through the Medullary Pyramids to connect the Cerebral Cortex to the lower Motor Centers of the BrainStem and Spinal Cord.

  • The Basal Ganglia (Caudate Nucleus, Putamen, Globus Pallidus and Substantia Nigra)
    This ExtraPyramidal System, consisting of a group of interrelated structures lying deep in the ForeBrain, whose output is directed mainly rostrally through the Thalamus to the Cerebral Cortex, rather than passing caudally directly through the Pyramidal Tract.
    (View Interior Image   &   Larger Image)

  • The Cerebellum
    The center for motor coordination that lies on the dorsal surface of the BrainStem. The contributions of these Motor System components towards producing movement are shown by the abnormal movement patterns that remain when a component is damaged or diseased.

Cerebellum's Three Anatomically Subdivisions

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  • The Archi or VestibuloCerebellum: comprises the Flocculonodular Lobe, which is concerned with the maintenance of equilibrium and Eye-Head-Neck movements and is closely interconnected with the Vestibular Nuclei.

  • The Midline Vermis or PaleoCerebellum: helps coordinate movement of the Trunk and Legs. Vermis lesions result in abnormalities of Stance and Gait.

  • The Lateral Hemispheres: which make up the NeoCerebellum, exert control over both Ballistic and Finely Coordinated Limb Movements, predominantly of the Upper Extremities.

Disorders Of Movement

ExtraPyramidal and Cerebellar Disorders

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Disorders of the Basal Ganglia (ExtraPyramidal Disorders) do not cause weakness or reflex changes; the hallmark is involuntary movement, resulting in excesses (HyperKinesia) or poverty (HypoKinesia) of movement, and changes in muscle tone and in posture.

Cerebellar disorders cause abnormalities in the range rate and force of movement. Strength is little affected. Voluntary movement is the end product of a complex sequence of Neural and NeuroMuscular events.

Cerebellar & SpinoCerebellar Disorders

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The Midline Cerebellum is the most common site of primary Brain tumor. DeMyelinating plaques of Multiple Sclerosis may arise anywhere in the Cerebellar White Matter and can give rise to a variety of Cerebellar deficits.

Disorders of the Cerebellum and its inflow or outflow pathways produce deficits in the rate, range, and force of movements.

Signs Of Cerebellar Disease

  • Ataxia: reeling, wide-based gait

  • Dysmetria: inability to control range of movements

  • Dysdiadochokinesia: inability to perform rapid alternating movements

  • Decomposition of Movement: inability to sequence properly fine, coordinated acts

  • Tremor: either with intention or sustention

  • Dysarthria: slurring, inappropriate phrasing and lack of modulation of speech volume

  • Nystagmus: side to side twitching of the eyes, with the fast component maximal towards the side of the Cerebellar lesion

Lesions of the CorticoSpinal System

Result in Weakness or total Paralysis of predominantly distal voluntary movements, Babinski's Sign, and often Spasticity (increased muscle tone, and exaggerated deep tendon reflexes).

The increase in muscle tone of Spasticity is proportional to the rate and degree of stretch placed upon a muscle up to a point at which resistance suddenly melts away.

Continued In scan-02

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