Table 2 Indications for spinal cord MRI
Situation | Objective |
|---|---|
Clinically isolated syndrome with spinal cord symptoms | Detect symptomatic and clinically silent lesions Rule out other diseases |
Clinically isolated syndrome without spinal cord symptoms, but with inconclusive brain MRI (for example, not demonstrating dissemination in space) | Detect clinically silent lesions Increase specificity and sensitivity of diagnosis |
Strong clinical suspicion of MS, but no findings on brain MRI | Increase sensitivity of diagnosis Investigate possible absence of spinal cord lesions, which could rule out MS |
Nonspecific brain MRI findings (e.g. perivascular lesions, effects of ageing, incidental findings associated with migraine and/or chronic headache) | Increase sensitivity of diagnosis Investigate possible spinal cord lesions, which could support the diagnosis of MS |
Radiologically isolated syndrome | Increase specificity of diagnosis Predict risk of conversion to MS |
Primary progressive MS | Increase sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis Rule out other diseases |
