Confirmatory Studies:- A brain MRI scan is the most useful test for confirming the diagnosis of MS CNS Imaging..1 MS lesions appear as areas of high signal, predominantly in the cerebral white matter or spinal cord, on T2-weighted images. MRI scanning is useful for detecting structural pathology in regions that can be difficult to image by computed tomography, such as the posterior fossa, craniocervical junction, and cervical cord.2 A brain MRI scan performed with a high-field magnet is abnormal in almost all patients who have clinically definite MS.
Sensory Evoked Potential Testing:- Evoked potentials may be useful in demonstrating the presence of subclinical lesions in sensory pathways or in providing objective evidence of lesions suspected on the basis of subjective complaints.
2As it can provide objective evidence of an optic nerve lesion that may not be evident on an MRI scan.
3 Of the sensory evoked potential tests, the visual evoked potential is the most useful Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Analysis. With definite MS, the CSF IgG concentration In approximately 90 percent of patients is increased relative to other CSF proteins, and CSF gel electrophoresis reveals oligoclonal bands that are not present in a matched serum sample.
4 However, an increased CSF IgG index and the presence of oligoclonal bands are not specific for MS and therefore are not diagnostic of the disease. CSF analysis probably is most useful for ruling out infectious or neoplastic conditions that mimic MS
