The role of spinal cord imaging in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
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.
Nielsen
Jessica M
JM
Radiology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. jm.mielsen@vumc.nl
Barkhof
Frederik
F
van Oosten
Bob W
BW
Polman
Chris H
CH
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*