Journal of the neurological sciences
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Imaging considerations for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of MS are based primarily on results of MR studies of the brain. Recent studies suggest that with current technology, MR imaging of the spinal cord can make important contributions, particularly in cases with equivocal or negative brain MRI studies. Spinal cord MRI may also assume an important role in early diagnosis.
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Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) are widely used in various neurological diseases, but have not been systematically employed in neurocritical care patients. We evaluated the clinical and predictive value of MEPs by magnetic transcranial stimulation in intensive care patients with acute brainstem lesions of predominantly vascular origin. ⋯ MEP recordings can be safely performed in neurointensive care patients and yield utilizable results. In patients with brainstem lesions, MEPs correlate with radiological findings and predict final motor function more accurately than clinical findings. MEPs are a reliable diagnostic tool for assessing motor function in otherwise unresponsive patients.