NeuroTalk has an important post on MS wrong diagnosis.[1] The list of diseases that can mascarade as MS is extensive.
- Auto-Immune Diseases
Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE),
Sjögren’s Syndrome,
Myasthenia Gravis
- Infectious Diseases:
Lyme disease (LD)
Human T-cell lymphotrophic virus-1 (HTLV-1)
- Vascular:
Stroke
Central nervous system (CNS) Angitis
Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas
Binswanger’s
- Others
B12 Deficiencies
Fibromyalgia
Fact is, an MS diagnosis is the result of a combination of MRI lesions readings , neurologist clinical exams, spinal taps .
Brain MRI Showing Multiple Sclerosis [NIH Olivier Commowick et.al. (2)]
“… MRI evidence plays a supportive role in what is ultimately a clinical diagnosis of MS, in the appropriate clinical situation, and always at the exclusion of alternative diagnoses…”[4]
- NeuroTalk ; “Diseases that can mimic MS”
- NIH ; “Detection of DTI White Matter Abnormalities in Multiple Sclerosis Patients” ; 2008
- Lancet Neurology ; “MRI and the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: expanding the concept of “no better explanation” ; 2006
- Advanced Neurology ; “The role of MRI in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.”; 2006
