title: Cranial nerve, brainstem and cerebellar syndromes in the differential diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
abstract: A clinically isolated syndrome indicating a pathological process involving the cranial nerves or the posterior fossa may constitute a hard diagnostic challenge for the clinician. Whereas internuclear ophthalmoplegia, for example, is almost pathognomonic of multiple sclerosis (MS), other clinical presentations are often puzzling. The main alternative causes of symptoms that may suggest a clinical onset of MS are reviewed here, grouped in principal clinical syndromes, with particular attention to some rare, recently recognised conditions.
authors.affiliation: Multiple Sclerosis Study Center, Department of Neurology, Gallarate Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaffaroni
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Baldini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghezzi
mesh_terms: D001933:Brain Stem / Q000503:physiopathology; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018450:Disease Progression; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009886:Ophthalmoplegia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000209:etiology; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology