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Published on: January 20, 2023
Diagnostic imaging in acute disseminated encephalomyelitis
1University of Zagreb, School of Medicine and University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Department of Neurology and Referral Center for Demyelinating Diseases of the Central Nervous System, Zagreb, Croatia. vesna.brinar@zg.t-com.hr
Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics
|March 2, 2010
Summary
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is hard to distinguish from clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), the first multiple sclerosis (MS) episode. This review highlights ADEM
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroimmunology
- Demyelinating Diseases
Background:
- Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS).
- ADEM diagnosis is challenging due to its similarity to the first clinical presentation of multiple sclerosis (MS), known as clinically isolated syndrome (CIS).
- Current diagnostic criteria lack definitive features to reliably differentiate ADEM from CIS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the clinical and paraclinical characteristics of ADEM in adults.
- To emphasize the role of diagnostic imaging in differentiating ADEM from other demyelinating disorders.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on ADEM and CIS.
- Analysis of clinical presentations, neuroimaging findings, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis in ADEM.
- Focus on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) patterns characteristic of ADEM.
Main Results:
- No single clinical, neuroimaging, or CSF biomarker can definitively diagnose ADEM.
- Diagnostic imaging, particularly MRI, plays a crucial role in identifying patterns suggestive of ADEM.
- Understanding the nuances of ADEM presentation is key to differential diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Reliable differentiation between ADEM and CIS remains a clinical challenge.
- Comprehensive evaluation integrating clinical, imaging, and laboratory data is essential.
- Diagnostic imaging is pivotal in the diagnostic workup of suspected ADEM in adults.
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