Multiple Sclerosis–making the diagnosis

I still continue to get many questions from the readers of my blog regarding multiple sclerosis (MS). A significant majority of them write to me because they are concerned they may have MS either because of white matter lesions found on a MRI scan of the brain or because they are plagued by various non-specific signs and symptoms. Though I have written about this before, I thought this shall be a good time to go over how the diagnosis of MS is made. What are the symptoms that raise the suspicion for MS, what are the clinical signs on examination that suggest MS and finally what are the tests that may help to confirm the diagnosis.

Before I dwell deeper into this topic, please remember: THE DIAGNOSIS OF MS IS A CLINICAL ONE. Meaning that it can be made on the basis of a history and clinical examination itself. No tests are needed in such a situation to confirm the diagnosis.  Of course as it is often in medicine–it is always not that easy.

So let us begin—

Clinical history: Are there any points in the clinical history of the patient that suggest the diagnosis of MS? Patients with MS may give a history of neurological symptoms and signs (remember signs are elicted on clinical examination-meaning when the doctor examines you) that wax and wane (relapsing and remitting MS). A patient may present with acute loss of vision in one eye along with pain in the eye  (I am talking about optic neuritis). As the doctor dwells deeper into the history, the patient volunteers that a couple of years ago he had a similar problem in the other eye which had resolved on its own and he had not been investigated further. Hmmm–now we have history of 2 attacks separated in time. As a neurologist this makes me think of MS as a possible diagnosis. The problem with MS though is that it may present with non-specific signs or symptoms or rather it may present with signs and symptoms that localize to different parts of the central nervous system (CNS). By CNS I mean the brain and the spinal cord. So for example patients may present with numbness on weakness on one side of the body (this localizes to the contralateral motor or sensory cortex), problems with the bladder (incontinence–this usually localizes to the spinal cord), problems with balance and coordination (their gait is off and they may have a prominent tremor in their limbs–this localizes to the cerebellum or the brain stem), double vision (this localizes to the cranial nerves which control the movement of the eyes). Virtually any part of the central nervous system can be involved–hence the presentation is at times non-specific. BUT WHAT HELPS US AS DOCTORS IS WHEN WE GET HISTORY WHICH SUGGESTS A DISEASE DISSEMINATED IN SPACE AND IN TIME. Meaning a disease process which is involving different parts of the central nervous system and which has shown evidence of multiple attacks separated by time. REMEMBER MS IS NOT A MONOPHASIC ILLNESS (it relapses and remits!!!)

Clinical examination: So what are the clinical examination findings which make me as a neurologist think of MS in  a patient. There are certain neurological signs which have been said to be pathogonomic of MS (meaning the presence of these signs virtually seals the diagnosis of MS). These include certain eye signs. Bilateral internuclear opthalmoplegia (INO) (who said neurology was easy!!!) is one such sign. This is an eye-sign in which the patient’s eyes do not move as directed by the examiner. One eye fails to adduct (that is move inwards) while the other eye  abducts (moves outwards) but the abducting eye shows a nystagmus (shaky side to side movement). Other eye signs such as an afferent pupillary defect (this is elicted by shining a penlight into the eye) also raise suspicion for MS. What we as neurologists look for though is this–we look for signs that suggest the disease is disseminated in the CNS. REMEMBER WHAT I TOLD YOU ABOUT MS. IT IS A DISEASE WHICH IS DISSEMINATED IN TIME AND SPACE.

Tests: so when a diagnosis of MS cannot be made on the basis of history and examination alone, we as doctors have to fall back on tests to rule in or rule out the diagnosis. No test seals the diagnosis of MS by itself. They just help to add to our certainity. I shall discuss the various tests namely –imaging studies such as MRI scan of the brain and spinal cord., evoked potential studies such as visual evoked potential (VEP), somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP), brain stem auditory evoked potential (BAEP), spinal fluid (CSF) examination in the next post.


Nitin Sethi, MD

13 thoughts on “Multiple Sclerosis–making the diagnosis

  1. first off, what a great service! i applaud you endlessly for your efforts and your kindness.

    now, about those MRI’s. everyone seems to assume that MRI’s are always ordered correctly, performed as ordered, performed correctly, and read correctly. and in the case of MS the MRI’s would need to be read looking for MS. for over a decade i had 4 sets of MRI’s done but my treating physician didn’t want to ruin my medical records so she ordered the scans done with and without contrast with an indication of headache. so every time the technician did not administer the contrast and the radiologist stated that the white matter changes could be due to ischemia. and these were the films i took to each neurologist i saw. so, i had doctors tell me that these MRI’s showed no signs of MS. now i use a walker and a wheelchair and although my MS started at age 14, i was diagnosed at age 47 with clonus in my legs by an MS specialist who can not believe that i was not diagnosed earlier and that i was told my 4 MRI’s were normal. (these 4 sets of films were never returned to the hospital by the neurologist i saw in 2001).

    so, MRI’s are only as good as all the habits of all people involved. and sometimes that is a very low standard. in a perfect world MRI’s may be a better tool, but when people run the machines, ….

    again, great service.

  2. Thank you for your informative article. I have been diagnosed as having MS. My neurologist first said that he doubted I had MS, becasue I have RA and they are not often seen together. Is this true? If yes, why?

    1. Dear Mau,
      I personally have not seen a patient who had multiple sclerosis as well as rheumatoid arthritis. That said and done, I am sure the conditions can occur coincidentally as they both are autoimmune pathologies.

      Personal Regards,
      Nitin Sethi, MD

  3. Hello!

    I have a question reg ALS. If you experience fasciculations after a broken foot, well after about 3 weeks in the cast it started to notice..(in a healthy male)could that be signs of something severe or anything? I have it in the legs with no other symptoms but fasciculations that comes and goes in both legs healthy and the one with cast. Or is it due to to little physical activity my muscles are wasting? How long after fasciculations occcur muscle wasting if its something more severe?

    1. Dear Chris,
      thank you for writing in. Fasciculations may occur in any lower motor neuron disease process. So yes, after a broken foot fasciculations may be noted specially if there is nerve damage and disuse atrophy. They usually are first noted about 3-4 weeks after nerve damage.

      Personal Regards,
      Nitin Sethi, MD

  4. Thank you for your time and answer!

    Could fasciculation be the first symtom of ALS? Or must there be other symtoms? How long would it take before first symtoms to notice strength loss etc? Months? And if the fasciculations comes and go over body does not sound like ALS? And if it does not occur when you walk or other physical activities..

  5. I was wondering if an L.P. that was misplaced for 8 weeks, but frozen would be accurate. The negative L.P. was what ruled out M.S. although I have many signs and symptoms including optic neuritis.

    1. Dear Theresa,
      that is a very good question and one for which I have no good answer. It depends upon what you are looking for in the spinal fluid. I mean what tests you are going to run on it.

      Personal Regards,
      Nitin Sethi, MD

  6. Dear Caroll,
    thank you for writing in. I doubt a 3 Tesla MRI scan would reveal lesions that were “missed” by a 1.5 Tesla scanner. As for what else it could be, I am not really sure. Your doctor shall be the best person to guide further work-up

    Personal Regards,
    Nitin Sethi, MD

  7. I guess my question is this: What is gong on? My neurologist is sending me to a demyelination specialist and I have appointment at the end of next month (February). I thought due to the negative lumbar puncture (twice) that MS was eliminated. If that is the case what else could it be? I guess I am tired and frustrated and wanting something I can point to and say, “there, that is the cause.” I know this is a bit irrational, but I am at my wits end.

  8. Hi, I’ve recently began reading your blog and find it quite informative! Thank you!

    I’m a WF, 38, 5’11”, 170 lbs. I have been experiencing continuous ringing in my ears, staggering gait, vision issues (blurred/double vision), fatigue, “pins and needles” pain in my extremities and loss of memory/ability to stay organized. I went to my ENT and he sent me to get an MRI. The reading said “3 mm focus of gliosis within the subcortical white matter of the superior frontal lobe. This is non-specific and could be secondary to chronic microvascular ischemia, previous trauma, demyelinating disease, chronic migraine headaches or vasculitis”. What does this mean??

    I’m scheduled to see a neurologist in December to “rule out MS”, as my doctor said. Any insight would be helpful as the worry is about to drive me crazy.

    Thanks in advance!

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