Multiple Sclerosis-Minimizing Errors in Radiological Diagnosis.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Radiology
• Demyelinating Diseases

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disorder with overlapping clinical and imaging features with other neurological conditions.
• Misdiagnosis of MS can lead to delayed treatment, increased patient morbidity, and elevated healthcare costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline strategies for differentiating multiple sclerosis from conditions that mimic it clinically and radiologically.
• To improve the accuracy of multiple sclerosis diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was performed using PubMed and Medline.
• Included publications focused on the radiological aspects of multiple sclerosis, white matter diseases, and MS mimickers.

Main Results:

• Common conditions mimicking MS include small vessel disease, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, neuromyelitis optica, anti-MOG encephalomyelitis, vasculitis, and CADASIL.
• Contrast-enhanced MRI using a standardized MS protocol on high-strength systems, combined with clinical correlation, is effective in distinguishing MS from its mimics.

Conclusions:

• Contrast-enhanced MRI on high-strength scanners, employing an MS-specific protocol and structured evaluation, aids in accurate diagnosis.
• Enhanced collaboration between radiologists and clinicians is vital for minimizing diagnostic errors in multiple sclerosis.