ACUTE DISSEMINATED ENCEPHALOMYELITIS

• DOI: 10.1093/brain/113.2.291
• Publication Date: 2007-01-04T09:37:03Z
• Authors: JÜRG KESSELRING; DAVID H. MILLER; STEPHANIE A. ROBB; BRIAN E. KENDALL; IVAN F. MOSELEY; DEREK KINGSLEY; E. P. GEORGE; H. DU BOULAY; W. IAN MCDONALD
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Multiple Sclerosis; Brain; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; 3. Good health; Diagnosis, Differential; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Acute Disease; Humans; Female; Encephalomyelitis

Brain MRI was performed on 12 patients with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). Multifocal white matter lesions indistinguishable from those seen in multiple sclerosis (MS) were found in 10. In 5 there were rather extensive symmetric abnormalities in the cerebral (2) or cerebellar white matter (2), or basal ganglia (1). Follow-up MRI after intervals of 2 wks to 18 months demonstrated partial resolution of the abnormalities, but some persisting lesions. New MRI lesions were found at follow-up in only 1 case after an interval of 2 wks. Serial MRI makes a useful contribution to the distinction between MS and ADEM.