Differential Diagnosis of Acute Myelopathies: An Update

Appropriate description may lead to adequate diagnostic and therapeutic measures, and therefore, a simple scheme to categorize and term the imaging findings of acute myelopathy is suggested based on current literature. Assigning imaging findings to five groups, that is (a) “segmental with rash,” (b) “poliolike,” (c) “granulomatous-nodular,” (d) “longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis,” (e) “short-segment ovoid or peripherally located,” provides a rationale to lessen differential diagnoses. The key for understanding, proper description and differential diagnosis is the correlation of two time points: When did the first symptoms appear and when did imaging take place? Early infarction within the first 24 h will show neither swelling nor enhancement.