Affiliations: Shriners Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA, USA | Department of Radiology, Temple University,
Philadelphia, PA, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Nadia Barakat, Clinical Research
Department, Shriners Hospitals for Children, 3551 North Broad Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA. Tel.: +1 215 430 4190; Fax: +1 215 430 4145;
E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Transverse myelitis is diagnosed based on the presence of spinal
cord inflammation and the absence of infection to the central nervous system.
In support of these criteria, patients undergo lumbar puncture to determine
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) pleocytosis and un-enhanced or Gadolinium-enhanced
spinal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). We present the case of an 11~year-old
previously healthy male who underwent a series of lab tests and MRI scans
before a definite diagnosis of transverse myelitis four years prior to this
study. The patient still shows deficits at the C4 cord level according to
International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury
(ISNCSCI) examination, however, his MRI results are negative, and his Diffusion
Tensor Imaging (DTI) results are close to values reported in healthy subjects.
