What other conditions mimic MS?

Can MS be mistaken for other diseases?

Many conditions share similar symptoms with MS, which can increase the risk of misdiagnosis. According to one 2019 study , some of the most common misdiagnoses include migraine, RIS, spondylopathy, and neuropathy.

What autoimmune disease is similar to MS?

Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease that can mimic some of the symptoms of MS such as fatigue and joint pain.

What neurological disease is like MS?

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD)

NMOSD is an inflammatory disease that, like multiple sclerosis, attacks the myelin sheaths — the protective covering of the nerve fibers — of the optic nerves and spinal cord, says Conway. But unlike MS, it usually spares the brain in its early stages.

What mimics MS on MRI?

Hypoxic-ischemic vasculopathy, specially small-vessel disease, inflammatory disorders, vasculitis, and non-MS idiopathic inflammatory disorders, as well as some toxic, metabolic, and infectious disorders, may present mimicking MS on MR examinations and should be included in the differential diagnosis of MS-like lesions ...

Neurologist Discusses Diseases Which May Mimic MS

How do you rule out MS?

There are no specific tests for MS . Instead, a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis often relies on ruling out other conditions that might produce similar signs and symptoms, known as a differential diagnosis. Your doctor is likely to start with a thorough medical history and examination.

What is the differential diagnosis of multiple sclerosis?

The main differential diagnoses for MS include, but are not limited to, the following: Spinal cord neoplasms (eg, astrocytomas, ependymomas) Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) Schilder disease.

What symptoms are unique to MS?

What causes brain lesions besides MS?

Injury, trauma and nonmedical circumstances that can cause brain lesions include: Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries. Medical procedures, such as surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Radiation exposure.

What is the number one symptom of MS?

Numbness of the face, body, or extremities (arms and legs) is often the first symptom experienced by those eventually diagnosed as having MS.

How do you confirm you have MS?

MRI scan. An MRI scan is a painless scan that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the inside of the body. It can show whether there's any damage or scarring of the myelin sheath (the layer surrounding your nerves) in your brain and spinal cord.

Can you have a clear MRI and still have MS?

Although MRI is a very useful diagnostic tool, a normal MRI of the brain does not rule out the possibility of MS. About 5 percent of people who are confirmed to have MS do not initially have brain lesions evidenced by MRI.

How do I know if my brain lesions are MS?

Diagnosing MS

More than 90% of people with MS have scar tissue that shows up on an MRI scan. A spinal tap can check for abnormalities in the fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord. Tests to look at electrical activity of nerves can also help with diagnosis.

Can fibromyalgia be mistaken for MS?

But despite some similarities, “for the most part, there is no mistaking symptoms of MS with fibromyalgia,” says Philip Cohen, MD, a rheumatologist, professor of medicine and professor of microbiology and immunology at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia.

Does MS affect your nails?

Nail problems are common, and they are not usually serious. If a person has multiple sclerosis (MS), nail problems can cause pain or discomfort. While nail issues are not directly related to the disease, determining the cause may help prevent a person with MS from experiencing further discomfort.

What are subtle signs of MS?

Does MS show up in blood work?

Blood Tests: Currently, there are no definitive blood tests for diagnosing MS, but they can be used to rule out other conditions that may mimic MS symptoms, including Lyme disease, collagen-vascular diseases, rare hereditary disorders and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

What is the gold standard for diagnosing multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is diagnosed on the basis of clinical findings and supporting evidence from ancillary tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and spinal cord and cerebrospinal fluid examination.

What is the most accurate way to diagnose MS?

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

It's very accurate and can pinpoint the exact location and size of any inflammation, damage or scarring (lesions). MRI scans confirm a diagnosis in over 90 per cent of people with MS.

What are four common diagnostic tests for MS?

A comprehensive patient medical history and neurological exam. Magnetic resonance imaging of the neuroaxis. Evoked Potentials testing. Analysis of the spinal fluid.

What is the new blood test for MS?

Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a new and easily accessible blood test that could predict disease progressions of several neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's Disease, according to a recent press release by LabCorp.

Where are the most common places for MS lesions?

Lesions may be observed anywhere in the CNS white matter, including the supratentorium, infratentorium, and spinal cord; however, more typical locations for MS lesions include the periventricular white matter, brainstem, cerebellum, and spinal cord.