summary: In adults, MS lesions of the spinal cord are known to contribute significantly to disability. The authors investigated the radiological features of spinal cord lesions in 36 children with MS and found the majority of spinal cord lesions in paediatric-onset MS patients closely resemble those of adults with relapsing-remitting MS. However no association was found between spinal cord involvement in terms of lesion count and clinical disability. Their findings suggest that children recover well from MS attacks involving the spine, as they do from attacks involving the brain early in their disease. However, whether children with spinal lesions are at greater risk for future disability relative to paediatric-onset MS patients who do not experience early spinal cord involvement remains uncertain and further longitudinal observation into adulthood will be required.

authors: Verhey LH, Branson HM, Makhija M, Shroff M, Banwell B.

source: Neuroradiology. 2010 Aug 19. [Epub ahead of print]

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