The use of MRI in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

摘要

In this issue of The Lancet Neurology, Charil and colleagues present the conclusions of an international consensus panel conference that was held in Amsterdam in 2005 with the goal of identifying and assessing so-called "MRI red flags" in the differential diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. These red flags are envisioned to represent certain MRI findings reported in disorders other than multiple sclerosis-such as systemic lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis, or small-vessel ischaemic disease-that should lead clinicians to "extensively assess patients" for possible alternativediagnoses to multiple sclerosis. Charil and colleagues provide a broad review of an important topic, discuss alternative diagnoses to multiple sclerosis, and compare the MRI findings in these disorders with those in typical multiple sclerosis. There is much useful information about MRI features of these alternative diseases.