MRI of spinal cord in multiple sclerosis

Current concepts in the diagnosis of transverse myelopathies

“…The clinical symptoms in CIS are characterized by dominant and asymmetrical sensory signs and symptoms, mostly paraesthesias, usually slowly spreading from the legs to the upper part of the body, more pronounced on one side, often with a band-like sensation or pressure around the abdomen or chest. MRI is also quite typical with small demyelinating lesions, involving less than two segments, most often located in the posterior or lateral part of the spinal cord (22,23) (Fig 1). Patients with MS commonly also have demyelinating lesions of the brain, while in CIS, spinal lesions are the only sign of disease (Fig 1,2 ).…”

“…The majority of incomplete TM in young persons are diagnosed as multiple sclerosis (MS) (20,21,22) or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) . This was the case in our previous study where 31 patients with TM: six cases were originally called CIS ,who all later converted to MS (2).…”

The Role of Venous Abnormalities in Neurological Disease

“…All of these may occur naturally or they may be induced by traumatic events as well. Poser has suggested that trauma to the spine can lead to exacerbations of MS and that repair of herniated discs causing cord compression can alleviate symptoms173,174 .Thus one might postulate that inherited or acquired disorders of the spine could lead to chronic venous hypertension ischemia and oxidative stress. On the other hand blockages of the CSF could cause similar venous problems through the development of chronic normal pressure hydrocephalus.…”