TY - JOUR
T1 - Acute leukoencephalopathies
T2 - Differential diagnosis and investigation
AU - Weinshenker, Brian G.
AU - Lucchinetti, Claudia F.
PY - 1998/5
Y1 - 1998/5
N2 - BACKGROUND- Acute and subacute leukoencephalopathies of the CNS result in neurological deficits that are attributable to dysfunction of the white- matter tracts or that involve primarily white matter on magnetic resonance neuroimaging. The differential diagnosis is broad. REVIEW SUMMARY - We review the differential diagnosis and clinical approach to acute leukoencephalopathies based on the setting in which they occur and their clinical and radiological features. We discuss specific features that should lead one to search for a cause other than an idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the CNS. We examine the spectrum of the inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the CNS and how clinical, imaging, and pathological studies can be used to differentiate among these entities. CONCLUSIONS - Evaluation of the leukoencephalopathies requires a broad knowledge of the differential diagnosis and spectrum of the idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating diseases. Brain biopsy, when supported by experienced neuropathological interpretation, can often assist in the diagnostic process.
AB - BACKGROUND- Acute and subacute leukoencephalopathies of the CNS result in neurological deficits that are attributable to dysfunction of the white- matter tracts or that involve primarily white matter on magnetic resonance neuroimaging. The differential diagnosis is broad. REVIEW SUMMARY - We review the differential diagnosis and clinical approach to acute leukoencephalopathies based on the setting in which they occur and their clinical and radiological features. We discuss specific features that should lead one to search for a cause other than an idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the CNS. We examine the spectrum of the inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the CNS and how clinical, imaging, and pathological studies can be used to differentiate among these entities. CONCLUSIONS - Evaluation of the leukoencephalopathies requires a broad knowledge of the differential diagnosis and spectrum of the idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating diseases. Brain biopsy, when supported by experienced neuropathological interpretation, can often assist in the diagnostic process.
KW - Demyelinating diseases
KW - Differential diagnosis
KW - Leukoencephalopathy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0031831671&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0031831671&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/00127893-199805000-00006
DO - 10.1097/00127893-199805000-00006
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:0031831671
VL - 4
SP - 148
EP - 166
JO - Neurologist
JF - Neurologist
SN - 1074-7931
IS - 3
ER -