MRI: Axial MRI (PD-W on the left, T2-W on the right) in a different patient shows scattered white matter lesions of various sizes which are high signal relative to gray matter. These lesions often occur in people over 50 years of age, in patients with diabetes, hypertension, or a vasculitis such as lupus erythematosus. It is believed that these are small ischemic lesions and the MRI is showing edema or gliosis. MR is more sensitive than CT in detecting these lesions.