Abstract
Prompt recognition of an inflammatory myelopathy is critical, as a specific diagnosis
and management plan allows for optimal patient outcomes. Many treatment options are
now available for autoimmune and paraneoplastic myelopathies, but specific management
strategies and expected prognosis vary widely depending on the underlying etiology.
An understanding of the relevant clinical details, imaging findings, and other diagnostic
information that can help achieve a specific myelopathy diagnosis and treatment plan
is essential for all neurologists, given the variety of contexts in which myelopathies
are encountered. We provide an outline of the diagnostic evaluation and treatment
of various inflammatory myelopathies seen in autoimmune and paraneoplastic diseases,
including multiple sclerosis, aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G (IgG) seropositive neuromyelitis
optica spectrum disorder, sarcoidosis, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein IgG associated
disease, and other rare inflammatory myelopathies; we also highlight common mimickers
of inflammatory myelopathies.
Keywords
transverse myelitis - spinal cord - neuromyelitis optica
