Low risk of developing MS: When CIS is not accompanied by MRI-detected brain lesions, the person has about a 20 percent chance of developing MS over the same period of time. This is one possibility is a clinically isolated syndrome. But it's not determined ms unless it meets the McDonald Criteria.

My first MRI had no lesions (with and without contrast). It wasn't until a follow-up MRI two years later that the lesions showed up ... and the diagnosis was given. From my perspective, yes. You can have no lesions and have MS. The lesions just may not have shown up in the MRIs.

I have no brain lesions, mine are on my c-spine, wehich affects my mobility. My husband has brain lesion, which affects his balance, speech, etc.

Although MRI photos can give good indication of MS, it is not alone used as an indication for dx. Lesions for progressive forms of MS form on the spine which usually do not show up on a brain MRI. That is why MS specialists will perform a few tests to confirm.

@A MyMSTeam Member I had 3 hours worth of MRIs with and without contrast, head, neck and spine. There were no lesions. It wasn't until the later MRI that lesions were detected in the brain and spine (i.e., areas previously tested). I understand what MS means. The doctor concluded that I probably had lesions but they did not show up on the initial MRI. Not sure why you think that is a "negated" statement. I'm sure there are lots of reasons why the lesions didn't show up. Bottom line, they didn't show up, but the doctor thought I had MS from the earlier MRI notwithstanding the fact that they did not see the lesions initially.