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Ms mri findings5/26/2023 ![]() Visual evoked potentials are considered the most useful for confirming the MS diagnosis. Because damage to myelin (demyelination) results in a slowing of response time, EPs can sometimes provide evidence of scarring along nerve pathways that does not show up during the neurologic exam. Visual Evoked Potential (VEP)Įvoked potential (EP) tests are recordings of the nervous system's electrical response to the stimulation of specific sensory pathways (e.g., visual, auditory, general sensory). However, the longer a person goes without brain or spinal cord lesions on MRI, the more important it becomes to look for other possible diagnoses. About 5 percent of people who are confirmed to have MS do not initially have brain lesions evidenced by MRI. And even people without any disease - particularly the elderly - can have spots on the brain that are similar to those seen in MS.Īlthough MRI is a very useful diagnostic tool, a normal MRI of the brain does not rule out the possibility of MS. The diagnosis of MS cannot be made solely on the basis of MRI because there are other diseases that cause lesions in the CNS that look like those caused by MS. It can also differentiate old lesions from those that are new or active. MRI is the best imaging technology for detecting the presence of MS plaques or scarring (also called lesions) in different parts of the CNS. Other tests are used to confirm the diagnosis or provide additional evidence, if necessary. In many instances, the person’s medical history and neurologic exam provide enough evidence to meet the diagnostic criteria. The physician also performs a variety of tests to evaluate mental, emotional and language functions, movement and coordination, balance, vision and the other four senses. The physician takes a careful history to identify any past or present symptoms that might be caused by MS and to gather information about birthplace, family history and places traveled that might provide further clues. Tools for Making an MS Diagnosis Medical History and Neurologic Exam The criteria (now referred to as The Revised McDonald Criteria) were further revised in 2005 and again in 2010 to make the process easier and more efficient. A person with CIS may or may not go on to develop MS. These tests can be used to look for a second area of damage in a person who has experienced only one attack (also called a relapse or an exacerbation) of MS-like symptoms - referred to as a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). In 2001, the International Panel on the Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis updated the criteria to include specific guidelines for using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), visual evoked potentials (VEP) and cerebrospinal fluid analysis to speed the diagnostic process. Find evidence that the damage occurred at least one month apart AND.Find evidence of damage in at least two separate areas of the central nervous system (CNS), which includes the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves AND.To make a diagnosis of MS, the physician must: These strategies include a thorough medical history, a neurologic exam and a variety of tests, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), evoked potentials (EP) and spinal fluid analysis. The doctor uses several strategies to determine if a person meets the established criteria for a diagnosis of MS, and to rule out other possible causes of the symptoms the person is experiencing. At this time, there are no symptoms, physical findings or laboratory tests that can, by themselves, determine if a person has MS.
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