Unusual clinical cases that mimic MS

Diseases which are associated with relapses and disability accumulation that mimic MS may be effectively treated if they are appropriately diagnosed. Unfortunately, however, it can be easy to assume that a patient is presenting with unusual symptoms of MS rather than establish unequivocally that there is no other cause. This article illustrates five short cases from a selection presented at the MS Forum Interactive Symposium at the LACTRIMS Congress, Brazil, 2004. These cases feature the differential diagnosis of MS and illustrate the importance of early and accurate diagnosis. Each case has clinical features suggestive of MS, together with diagnostic findings that are discordant with this disease. Clinical features that can easily be interpreted as unusual MS presentations, but which indicate the need to undertake additional investigation, are included.