U.S. doctors online nowAsk doctors free
Bronx, NY
A 29-year-old female asked:

2 years ago i was diagnosis with transverse myelitis. again i had another lesion on my spine close to the first one past and present brain mri was clear should i be doing a spinal tap. could it still be ms?

3 doctor answers7 doctors weighed in
Dr. Sudhir Bansal
Internal Medicine - Endocrinology 77 years experience
MS myelitis: Two lesions in the spine are very strongly suggestive of ms absence of brain lesion does not rule out ms check with a good neurologist so u can be treated with disease modifying drugs to prevent future worsening.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. Hashmat Rajput
Internal Medicine 41 years experience
TM & MS: Spinal tap does not confirm ms. It shows high igg, protein and leukocyte, also found in other immune diseases. Interestingly your mrix2 showed no brain lesion but what about spinal cord & optic nerve. Dx of ms is on neuro deficits & mri. Some thinktm is first episode of ms. Tm %conversion to ms is variable. The deficits are shown as where the myelin lesions are -on the cord, optic nerve or brain.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. Bennett Machanic
Neurology 54 years experience
This needs diagnosis: Need to tie this down. First, get aquaporin-4 study for neuromyelitis optica, and also visual evoked potential which is twice as accurate as mri. Yes, it could very well be ms, and you should get spinal fluid and check oligoclonal bands, but send fluid to mayo clinic, not locally. Lastly, get a second opinion asap. Ms drugs will make worse if nmo. Other problems should be excluded.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Last updated Dec 10, 2013

Disclaimer:

Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.