Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis differential diagnosis
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sujaya Chattopadhyay, M.D.[2]
Overview
Differential Diagnosis
| Disease | Clinical manifestations | Para-clinical findings | Gold standard | Additional findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viral encephalitis [1] | Can occur in any age characterised by fever and occasional prodromal illness | Leukocytosis in blood; T2-weighted MRI shows multiple diffuse hyperintensities overlying the grey matter and white matter of bilateral cerebral cortices, and to a lesser extent the white matter, basal ganglia, brainstem and cerebellum; lymphocytic pleocytosis with elevated protein and normal glucose in CSF. | CSF analysis for viral cultures and serological assays | History of recent travel, animal bites (lyme disease/rabies), contact with childhood exanthema and polio, high-risk occupations and drug abuse; skin rashes (VZV,Measles, Rickettsia). HSV may cause fronto-temporal signs, aphasia, personality changes and focal seizures while myelitis is seen in polio infection. |
| HIV encephalopathy | ||||
| Multiple sclerosis | ||||
| Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome |
References
- ↑ Kennedy PG (2004). "Viral encephalitis: causes, differential diagnosis, and management". J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 75 Suppl 1: i10–5. doi:10.1136/jnnp.2003.034280. PMC 1765650. PMID 14978145.