Acute transverse myelitis: a retrospective study using magnetic resonance imaging.

The prognostic value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the syndrome of acute transverse myelitis had not been evaluated. After retrospective study of 14 cases, we found that MRI is valuable for both diagnosis and prognosis in this illness. The criteria for the diagnosis of acute transverse myelitis consisted of acute onset (over less than 3 weeks) of symmetrical motor and sensory dysfunction referable to a distinct spinal cord level, with sphincter dysfunction. Patients with abnormal MRIs of the spinal cord had significantly worse outcomes than patients with normal MRIs.