MRI findings in acute idiopathic transverse myelopathy in children.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the clinical and MRI findings in three children with acute idiopathic myelopathy (AIM).


METHODS
Retrospective review of the clinical presentation, MRI findings and outcome of three patients diagnosed with acute idiopathic transverse myelitis.


RESULTS
Of note was the swift onset of symptoms in all patients, without any preceding illness or history of vaccination in two of the patients, and the rapid resolution of symptoms on steroid therapy in all the patients. MRI showed T2-weighted hyperintensity and patchy enhancement with gadolinium, but the extensive cord involvement did not correlate with the severity of presentation or outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings do not support that MRI evidence alone of diffuse myelopathy is a predictor of poor outcome in childhood AIM.
Andronikou
Savvas
S
Department of Paediatric Radiology, Red Cross Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town and School of Child and Adolescent Health, Klipfontein Road, Cape Town, South Africa. docsav@mweb.co.za
Albuquerque-Jonathan
Glenda
G
Wilmshurst
Jo
J
Hewlett
Richard
R
D000208:Acute Disease; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009188:Myelitis, Transverse / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology