Can MS be mistaken for stroke on MRI?
“The diagnosis of MS is tricky. Both the symptoms and MRI testing results can look like other conditions, such as stroke, migraines, and vitamin B12 deficiency,” Dr. Kaisey said.
Can multiple sclerosis be mistaken for a stroke?
Watch for unusual symptoms. Loss of ability to speak and understand aren’t very common symptoms of MS. So if you don’t normally have this problem with a flare-up, they could be a stroke warning sign. MS can cause other issues that stroke normally wouldn’t, like muscle spasms, pain, and bowel and bladder problems.
How do multiple sclerosis and stroke differ?
People diagnosed with MS have a lifelong disease where the immune system attacks the nerves in the brain. A stroke, on the other hand, is a brain attack that occurs when the blood supply to the brain becomes blocked. That’s why the main indicator between these two may be the speed at which symptoms surface.
Can multiple sclerosis be seen on an MRI?
Magnetic resonance imaging has become the single most useful test for the diagnosis of MS; MRI is sensitive to brain changes which are seen in MS. Classically, the MRI shows lesions in the white matter deep in the brain near the fluid spaces of the brain (the ventricles).
What is worse MS or stroke?
A stroke and multiple sclerosis may present themselves similarly and that is why it’s so important to recognize the key differences between the two as a stroke is far more life-threatening if treatment is delayed.
Did I have a stroke or MS?
Another key difference is that multiple sclerosis flares occur over several days, whereas stroke symptoms are sudden and severe and can occur within a few minutes. If your symptoms then appear with full force, it is very likely that you are having a stroke as opposed to a multiple sclerosis flare.
Can MS be misdiagnosed as TIA?
Paroxysmal symptoms are unusual manifestations of multiple sclerosis (MS). When presented as the first clinical manifestation, paroxysmal symptoms may easily be mistaken for transient ischemic attack (TIA). Previously, several cases of MS that reported with paroxysmal symptoms were misdiagnosed as TIA.
What can a stroke be mistaken for?
Conditions That Look Like a Stroke
- Seizures.
- Migraine.
- Low or High Blood Sugar.
- Bell’s Palsy.
- Brain Tumors.
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Conversion Disorder.
- Sepsis and Other Infections.
Can an MRI date a stroke?
A head MRI is an excellent way to diagnose whether a stroke is ischemic or hemorrhagic, and it’s also great at finding abnormalities in the skull and spinal cord.
Can MS be missed on brain MRI?
MRI is considered the best test to help diagnose MS. However, 5% of people with MS do not have abnormalities detected on MRI; thus, a “negative” scan does not completely rule out MS. In addition, some common changes of aging may look like MS on a MRI.
What is the difference between multiple sclerosis and a stroke?
At first glance, it might not seem like multiple sclerosis (MS) and strokes have a lot in common. When you have a stroke, a blocked or burst blood vessel cuts off the blood supply to part of your brain.
What is an MRI for multiple sclerosis (MS)?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the most important and most commonly used tools for diagnosing and monitoring multiple sclerosis (MS). It is non-invasive and uses magnetic fields and radio waves to get sensitive images of the brain, spinal cord, and other areas of the body. 1
How do I know if I have MS or a stroke?
Watch for unusual symptoms. Loss of ability to speak and understand aren’t very common symptoms of MS. So if you don’t normally have this problem with a flare-up, they could be a stroke warning sign. MS can cause other issues that stroke normally wouldn’t, like muscle spasms, pain, and bowel and bladder problems.
What is the difference between a stroke and an MS flare up?
Also, while an MS flare up will likely involve symptoms such as muscle spasms, bladder control problems, and bowel issues, patients won’t see these with a stroke. Keep in mind that some of the physical factors that increase the risk of stroke also exacerbate symptoms of multiple sclerosis.