acute inflammation of gray and white matter in one or more adjacent spinal cord segments, usually thoracic.
Causes:
most commonly multiple sclerosis
neuromyelitis optica, infections, autoimmune or post-infectious (viral) inflammation, vasculitis, and certain drugs (amphtemaines, IV heroin, anti-parasitic/malarial).
Symptoms:
neck, back or head pain
band like tightness around torso
bilateral motor, sensory, and sphincter deficits below the level of the lesion.
Diagnosis:
MRI and CSF (monocyctes, protein mildly up, and IgG index high.)
IgG marker for neuromyelitis optica variant
DDx:
other transverse myelopathies B12, folate, Zn and Cu def's
vascular insufficiency and spinal tumour