Approach to Myelopathy and Myelitis

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Radiology

Background:

• Myelopathy presents with diverse symptoms and causes.
• Accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the role of neuroimaging in diagnosing myelopathy.
• To review common and rare causes of spinal cord dysfunction.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical presentation and diagnostic workup for myelopathy.
• Focus on the interpretation of imaging findings in myelopathy.

Main Results:

• Imaging characteristics can differentiate between various myelopathy etiologies.
• Key imaging findings associated with compressive, vascular, infectious, autoimmune, neoplastic, and toxic/metabolic causes are highlighted.

Conclusions:

• Neuroimaging is a cornerstone in the diagnostic evaluation of myelopathy.
• Integrating imaging with clinical data aids in identifying the underlying cause and initiating timely therapy.