Differential Diagnosis of Acute Myelopathies: An Update

Transverse spinal cord infarction following immunoglobulin treatment in a patient with exfoliative dermatitis: A case report

RATIONALE

Transverse spinal cord infarction (SCI) is rare but highly disabling. Aortic thrombosis was described as one of the most common etiologies. Thromboembolic complications associated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) have been reported.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A previously well, 64-year-old man who was given the treatment of IVIG (0.4 g/kg/d for 5 days) for exfoliative dermatitis 2 weeks before, progressively developed flaccid paraplegia of lower extremities, loss of all sensations below T3 level and urinary incontinence within 50 minutes.

DIAGNOSES

A diagnosis of SCI and pulmonary embolism was made. IVIG was considered the possible cause.

INTERVENTIONS

Anticoagulation treatment and continuous rehabilitation were administered.

OUTCOMES

The neurologic deficiency of the patient was partially improved at the 3-year follow-up.

LESSONS

The rapid development of severe deficits within 4 hours mostly contributes to the diagnosis of SCI. Heightened awareness of possible thrombotic events is encouraged for a month-long period following IVIG therapy.

Imaging Aspects of Toxic and Metabolic Myelopathies

Metabolic and toxic myelopathies usually occurs due to several different causes. Metabolic myelopathy usually occurs due to deficiency of a nutrient, such as vitamin B12. Toxic myelopathy occurs secondary to the exposure to an external toxic agent. Although they may have a difficult diagnosis, determination of the specific cause of myelopathy is of utmost importance, because many causes are amenable to treatment. Although they have many clinical, electrophysiologic, and neuropathologic similarities, imaging may aid in the suspicion of toxic or metabolic myelopathy. The aim of this article, is to review the imaging features of the main toxic and metabolic myelopathies.

Non-traumatic acute myelopathies: Clinical and imaging features in a real world emergency setting

OBJECTIVE

The aetiologic diagnosis of non-traumatic acute myelopathies (AMs), and their differentiation from other mimicking conditions (i.e. 'mimics'), are clinically challenging, especially in the emergency setting. Here, we sought to identify: (i) red flags suggesting diagnoses alternative to AMs and (ii) clinical signs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features differentiating non-compressive from compressive AMs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively retrieved MRI scans of spinal cord dictated at emergency room from January 2016 to December 2020 in the suspicion of AMs. Patients with traumatic myelopathies and those with subacute/chronic myelopathies (i.e. MRI scans acquired >48 h from symptom onset) were excluded from analysis.

RESULTS

Our search retrieved 105 patients; after excluding 16 cases of traumatic myelopathies and 14 cases of subacute/chronic myelopathies, we identified 30 cases with non-compressive AMs, 30 cases with compressive AMs and 15 mimics. The presence of pyramidal signs (p = 0.012) and/or pain (p = 0.048) correctly identified 88% of cases with AMs. We failed to identify clinical indicators for distinguishing non-compressive and compressive AMs, although cases with inflammatory AMs were younger than cases with all the remaining conditions (p < 0.05). Different MRI patterns could be described according to the final diagnosis: among non-compressive AMs, inflammatory lesions were more often posterior or central; vascular malformation had a fairly widespread distribution; spine ischaemia was more often central. Anterior or lateral compression were more often associated with neoplasms and disc herniation , whereas hemorrhages and infections produced spine compression on all sides.

CONCLUSION

We propose a simple clinical indicator (i.e. pyramidal signs and/or pain) to distinguish AMs from their mimics in an emergency setting. Urgent spinal cord MRI remains essential to discriminate compressive and non-compressive aetiologies.

Serial MRI findings of acute flaccid myelitis during an outbreak of enterovirus D68 infection in Japan

OBJECIVE

To clarify the neuroimaging findings of children with acute flaccid myelitis during an outbreak of EV-D68 infection.

METHODS

We performed a detailed review of the spinal and cranial MRI results of 54 children with acute flaccid myelitis. We focused on the range of longitudinal lesions, the localization and appearance of lesions within a horizontal section, Gadolinium-enhancement, and changes over time.

RESULTS

All children had longitudinal spinal lesions involving central gray matter. Twenty-six children had lesions spanning the entire spine. Six of them had weakness in all limbs, whereas seven had weakness of only one limb. Thirty-eight children had lesions in both gray and white matter and limb weakness tended to be more severe in these children. During the acute period, spinal lesions showed bilateral ill-defined widespread T2 hyperintensity. During the subacute period, lesions were well defined and confined to the anterior horn. The distribution of limb weakness was correlated with the appearance of lesions during the subacute period. Gadolinium enhancement was performed in 37 children, and enhancement was seen in the cauda equina in 29 children. Enhancement was infrequent within 2 days after onset but was seen in almost all children thereafter. Twenty-two children had brainstem lesions continuous with spinal lesions.

CONCLUSION

Extensive longitudinal spinal lesions were characteristic in children with acute flaccid myelitis. Lesions were usually bilateral and widespread during the acute period, whereas localization to the anterior horn could become obvious. Although enhancement of the cauda equina was often observed, its appearance was sometimes delayed.

Importance of Regular and Maintenance Therapy Adherence in Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO): Lessons from a Repeating Relapse Case

Patient: Female, 58

Final Diagnosis: NMO

Symptoms: New-onset right leg weakness and pain

Medication: —

Clinical Procedure: Progressive and recurring

Specialty: Neurology

Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Clinical Features in Acute and Subacute Myelopathies

Differential diagnosis of acute and subacute transverse myelopathy includes inflammatory, infectious, vascular, metabolic and paraneoplastic etiologies. Information on the diagnostic approach to transverse myelopathy with regard to daily clinical practice is provided. The differentiation between five lesion patterns on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in myelitis may be helpful: (1) longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis, (2) short segment ovoid or peripherally located, (3) "polio-like", (4) granulomatous and (5) segmental with rash. A correlation with these imaging features is supported if the clinical course and neurological symptoms are known. Although the mean interval from onset to nadir of symptoms in spinal cord infarction is 1 h, an overlap with a fulminant course of myelitis is possible, and impaired diffusion may also occur in acute inflammatory processes. As a result, laboratory testing, including aquaporin-4 antibodies and cerebrospinal fluid analysis, is crucial for the correct interpretation of imaging findings. Moreover, the discrimination of acute complete and acute partial transverse myelitis is advantageous in order to identify diverse entities, the latter often being a precursor to multiple sclerosis. Additional brain imaging is mandatory in suspected demyelinating, infectious, neoplastic and systemic autoimmune disease. A symmetrical lesion pattern restricted to individual tracts or dorsal columns indicates subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord and, in addition to deficiency syndromes, a paraneoplastic etiology should be considered.

Abnormal Spinal Cord Magnetic Resonance Signal: Approach to the Differential Diagnosis

T2-hyperintense signal abnormalities within the spinal cord on magnetic resonance imaging can evoke a broad differential diagnosis and can present a diagnostic dilemma. Here, we review and provide a succinct and relevant differential diagnosis based on imaging patterns and anatomical or physiopathologic correlation. Clues and imaging pearls are provided focusing on inflammatory, infectious, demyelinating, vascular, and metabolic involvement of the spinal cord.