Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis

It can take a long time before the signs of Multiple Sclerosis are detected and the disease is diagnosed because its symptoms are similar to those of other conditions. Physicians usually proceed by a process of elimination as they diagnose MS only when all the other possibilities have been excluded and there have been demyelinating events in different parts of the body and at different times.

The most commonly employed diagnostic tools are:

Neuroimaging, which comprehends the different techniques to obtain structural and functional imaging of the brain and can detect injuries, lesion and brain anomalies.Analysis of Cerebrospinal Fluid obtained from a lumbar puncture which can reveal the presence of chronic inflammation of the central nervous system.Analysis of Evoked Potentials, which measures the potentials that are caused by the electrical activity in the central nervous system after a stimulation of the sensorial system.Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brain and the spine which shows areas of demyelinations and lesions or plaques.Gadolinium, which is a chemical element administered intravenously as a contrast to highlight active lesions and demonstrate the pre-existence of older lesions not linked to other latest symptoms.