title: The role of spinal cord imaging in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A 29-year-old male presented with fluctuating but progressive sensory disturbances comprising tingling and dysesthesia in his right leg. MRI of the brain showed white matter lesions initially thought to be caused by multiple sclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neurological examination, cerebrospinal fluid examination, laboratory blood testing, brain and spinal MRI scans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Spinal cord schwannoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surgical removal of the schwannoma. An algorithm is provided that clarifies the appropriate MRI work-up for cases where the clinical presentation is suggestive of multiple sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Radiology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. jm.mielsen@vumc.nl
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Frederik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barkhof
authors.forename: Bob W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: van Oosten
authors.forename: Chris H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Polman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*