Transverse Myelitis and NMO Spectrum Disorders

Publication date: Available online 7 May 2016 Source:Seminars in Ultrasound, CT and MRI Author(s): Victoria Young, Gerardine Quaghebeur Transverse myelitis is defined as inflammation of the spinal cord, named due to its typical clinical presentation with band like symptoms of altered sensation or pain - in a horizontal fashion - at a specific dermatome level. Radiographic patterns might vary but the idiopathic form is more frequent to present as involvement of three to four vertebral segments and both sides of the cord. It is now recognised that there are numerous other causes as well as the idiopathic type, with often atypical features and geographic variation. There is also increasing recognition of other forms of myelitis, particularly the longitudinally extensive manifestation with involvement of three or more vertebral segments. Neuromyelitis optica, one of these subtypes can be diagnosed by means of an antibody assessment. The picture is more complicated with the expansion of the description to involve neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), new antibodies such as MOG and the inclusion of an antibody negative variant. This review will describe the different entities of transverse myelitis, with a particular focus on NMOSD.
Source: Seminars in Ultrasound, CT and MRI - Category: Radiology Source Type: research