Abstract
Autoimmune disorders are becoming increasingly recognized within the broader field
of neurology. The discovery of multiple, novel, neutrally targeted autoantibodies
over the past decade and their translation into commercially available testing, in
particular, has aided in the more rapid diagnosis of these disorders. When considering
imaging in autoimmune neurologic disorders, it is important, when possible, to visualize
the autoimmune process itself, as well as to make sure that the patient does not have
an associated malignancy driving the overall process. Positron emission tomographic
scans can aid in the detection of small tumors with limited spread, as well as in
the visualization of autoimmune processes affecting the brain and/or spinal cord.
In autoimmune disorders of the central nervous system, imaging abnormalities can appear
within the limbic system, extralimbic areas, and spinal cord. Such imaging abnormalities
can serve as objective markers to follow over time to assess patients' responses to
treatment. It is important to recognize that overlapping syndromes (for instance,
both demyelinating and autoimmune or both infectious and autoimmune) exist and that
inflammatory disorders can leave behind sequelae that can be recognized on subsequent
imaging. Work is currently underway to develop more specific imaging techniques for
autoimmune neurologic disorders.
Keywords
imaging - paraneoplastic - autoimmune - encephalitis - spinal cord