Question: I have had an MRI performed 12 months ago. I am trying to get a basic understanding of how it reads apart from knowing that I have suffered TIA with a torn carotid artery which was 80% blocked. the findings of the reports show

multiple areas of deep white matter T2/FLAIR hyperintensity are seen, scattered throughout the right frontal and parietal regions, and on coronal imaging, these have a wedge-shaped appearance, radiating from the deep white matter peripherally towards the cortex. The largest of these lesions are seen anteriorly and posteriorly at the junction of the MCA & ACA/PCA vascular territories respectively. A lesion is also demonstrated at the anterior aspect of the posterior limb of the right internal capsule. These lesions demonstrate a variable degree of mild diffusion restriction on DWI sequences.
Several tiny subcortical white matter foci of signal alteration are seen within the left cerebral hemisphere also, these likely representing the sequelae of chronic small vessel ischaemic disease.
Gradient echo T2 sequences do not demonstrate the presence of susceptibility artefact to suggest blood products. CSF spaces are within normal limits for age (I am 42 - female) with no evidence of hydrocephalus. Susceptibility weighed imaging does not demonstrate the presence of intracranial haemorrhage.
Time-of-flight MRA has been performed from the level of the aortic arch, to include the circle of Willis. Dissection of the right internal carotid artery as it enters the skull base is demonstrated, with narrowing of the true lumen by approx. 80%. T1 weighted sagittal imaging demonstrates the high signal intramural haematoma. The remainder of the intra and extracranial ICA, both CCAs and the left ICA, have normal appearances, as does the remainder of the anterior circulation vessels. An ACom is visualised.
Co-dominant vertebral arteries are noted, with normal appearances to both of these arteries. Small bilateral PComs are also noted.

COMMENT: reads - A right internal carotid artery dissection is noted, at the point of its entry into the skull base. Multiple areas of ischaemic infarction some of these acute, but the majority subacute in nature are noted in the right ICA watershed distribution.

I basically understand the artery dissection part, but the rest I can't get my head around and am tired of trying to get it explained to me - I am not satisfied that there is obviously other things showing given my age.