title: MRI differential diagnosis of suspected multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Diagnosing multiple sclerosis (MS) can be very challenging owing to its variable clinical features and lack of a definitive test. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a core diagnostic tool in the detection of MS lesions and demonstration of spatial and temporal distribution of disease. Moreover, MRI plays a crucial role in the exclusion of alternative diagnoses of MS. The aim of this review is to describe the typical MRI features of MS and to present a series of common mimics of MS with emphasis on their distinguishing features from MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK. Electronic address: jane.chen@nhs.net.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carletti
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Mandeville Rd, Aylesbury HP21 8AL, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mckean
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Quaghebeur
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology