Diagnostic problems in multiple sclerosis: overreliance on neuroimaging

Atypical manifestations of multiple sclerosis (MS) can mislead the physician into misdiagnosis. The correct diagnosis of MS depends on a combination of clinical and laboratory evidence. The introduction of newer neuroimaging studies has decreased the proportion of overdiagnoses of MS. Overreliance on either clinical or laboratory (currently neuroimaging) data can lead to underdiagnosis. The physician should consider the possibility of an atypical clinical presentation of MS in the differential diagnosis of patients with disease of the central nervous system.