Acute Myelopathy from ADEM to Zika
Acute-onset extremity weakness and paresthesia are among the most common indications for emergent spinal MR imaging. The aim of this article is to broaden readers' differential diagnostic armamentarium and reporting accuracy in the setting of suspected acute or progressive myelopathy
by presenting a review of common and uncommon causes of spinal cord disease with a focus on key distinguishing clinical and imaging findings organized into related groups of diseases. The review covers spinal cord anatomy; discusses typical MR imaging findings in various nontraumatic etiologies
of myelopathy and spinal neuropathy, as well as specific MR imaging findings; and examines the imaging, demographic, and clinical factors that can help us condense otherwise nonspecific findings into a focused differential or a single, discrete diagnosis. Topics covered include vascular, infectious
and postinfectious, granulomatous, neoplastic, compressive, demyelinating, and toxic and metabolic diseases. Review of this material can increase our confidence in rendering a targeted diagnosis or differential diagnosis and can make a significant impact on the downstream work-up and treatment
of the patient.
Learning Objective: To recognize spine abnormalities on MR imaging and identify circumstantial clinical and demographic features that can narrow or isolate the differential diagnosis in patients who present with acute or progressive myelopathy.
Learning Objective: To recognize spine abnormalities on MR imaging and identify circumstantial clinical and demographic features that can narrow or isolate the differential diagnosis in patients who present with acute or progressive myelopathy.
Keywords: ADEM = acute disseminated encephalomyelitis; GBS = Guillain-Barré syndrome; NMO = neuromyelitis optica; TM = transverse myelitis
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: April 1, 2019
This article was made available online on March 19, 2019 as a Fast Track article with title: "Acute Myelopathy from ADEM to Zika".
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