Transverse myelitis--neurophysiological and MRI correlation

Acute transverse myelitis (ATM) rarely involves the cervical spinal cord. We report on two patients with ATM and cervical cord involvement. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed high intensity signals in T2 extending far beyond the sensory level in both patients. Motor evoked potential (MEP) was unrecordable in all but one limb, and there it was marginally prolonged. Tibial somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) was unrecordable while median SEP was normal in both patients. Both MEP and SEP correlated with their respective clinical deficits but MEP seemed to correlate better with the MRI changes.