Abstract
Progress in knowledge on inflammation and infection of the spinal cord has led to a more important role of radiology in the diagnostic work-up of these diseases.
MR imaging is the only radiological technique that allows a direct visualization of the spinal cord, and multisequence imaging is very important for the adequate detection and localization of pathology.
In clinical neuroradiology, MR imaging is extremely helpful in differentiating multiple sclerosis from neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) with longitudinally extensive myelitis and in suggesting the diagnosis in granulomatous, autoimmune, and infectious diseases, partly based on their gadolinium-enhancement pattern.
The clinical history, serology, and CSF analysis should be available when investigating a suspected spinal cord inflammation or infection and, in some cases, brain MR imaging will be required to confirm or exclude a specific disease.
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Abbreviations
- Ab:
-
Antibody
- ACE:
-
Angiotensin converting enzyme
- ADEM:
-
Acute disseminating encephalomyelitis
- AQP4:
-
Aquaporin 4
- CSF:
-
Cerebrospinal fluid
- DIR:
-
Double inversion recovery
- LETM:
-
Longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis
- MR:
-
Magnetic resonance
- MOG:
-
Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein
- MS:
-
Multiple sclerosis
- NMOSD:
-
Neuromyelitis optic spectrum disorders
- PCR:
-
Polymerase chain reaction
- SLE:
-
Systemic lupus erythematosus
- SS:
-
Sjögren syndrome
- STIR:
-
Short tau inversion recovery
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Demaerel, P., Cappelle, S. (2018). Neuroimaging in Inflammatory and Infectious Diseases of the Spinal Cord. In: Barkhof, F., Jager, R., Thurnher, M., Rovira Cañellas, A. (eds) Clinical Neuroradiology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61423-6_40-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61423-6_40-1
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