title: Neuromyelitis optica mimics the morphology of spinal cord tumors.
abstract: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system, that predominantly affects the spinal cord and the optic nerve. Its key features include transverse myelitis, commonly associated with extensive inflammation spanning three or more consecutive vertebral segments. Longitudinal extensive spinal cord lesions can also occur in systemic autoimmune diseases, infections, vascular and metabolic disorders, subsequent to irradiation, intramedullary tumors and paraneoplastic myelopathies. We present a case study of an 8-year-old girl seropositive for antibodies against the aquaporin 4 who displayed longitudinal extensive spinal cord lesions, that was initially misdiagnosed as an intramedullary tumor.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Pediatric Neurology, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: İlknur
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Erol
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Özkale
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Pediatric Neurology, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tülin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Savaş
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Özlem
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Alkan
authors.affiliation: Department Neurosurgery, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Melih
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Çekinmez
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayşe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Erbay
mesh_terms: D051401:Aquaporin 4 / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D051401:Aquaporin 4; D001323:Autoantibodies; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011239:Prednisolone; D001379:Azathioprine
keywords: intramedullary tumor; longitudinally extensive spinal cord lesions; neuromyelitis optica; transverse myelitis