title: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: beyond longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the neuroradiological features and their prevalence in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two neuroradiologists independently reviewed 35 spinal cord and 37 brain MRI studies from patients with NMO. The examinations were analysed for the presence of lesion, topography, enhancement, and brain lesions suggestive of multiple sclerosis and/or NMO.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy percent of the spinal cord lesions involved over three or more vertebral segments. Seventy-eight percent of brain scans were abnormal, and the most prevalent findings were non-specific foci of T2 hyperintensities in the cerebral white matter (55%) and brainstem lesions (52%). One patient had lesions disseminated in space compatible with multiple sclerosis according to 2010 revised McDonald criteria. Brain lesions suggestive of NMO occurred at least once in 17 (59%) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spinal cord lesions were often longitudinally extensive and brain lesions were common, with the majority of patients having at least one distinctive NMO lesion.
authors: Departamento de Diagnóstico por Imagem, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: marcelodelbonilemos@gmail.com.
authors: M D
authors: MD
authors: Lemos
authors: Departamento de Diagnóstico por Imagem, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: G B S
authors: GB
authors: Carvalho
authors: Departamento de Diagnóstico por Imagem, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: R S
authors: RS
authors: Carvalho
authors: Disciplina de Neurologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: D B
authors: DB
authors: Bichuetti
authors: Disciplina de Neurologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: E M L
authors: EM
authors: de Oliveira
authors: Departamento de Diagnóstico por Imagem, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Abdala
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009188:Myelitis, Transverse / Q000473:pathology*; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000473:pathology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology