Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Neuromyelitis Optica (Devic\’s Syndrome)

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO, also known as Devic's syndrome) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system characterized by recurrent optic neuritis and acute transverse myelitis. The disease was initially considered a variant of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, recent literature had suggested that NMO is a distinct disease from MS, with poorer prognosis and different therapy. Therefore, it is important to distinguish NMO from MS as soon as possible. The presentations of optic neuritis and acute transverse myelitis in patients with NMO can be separate or simultaneous in clinical course, and the variations in clinical symptoms make early recognition and diagnosis of NMO difficult. We report two cases of NMO with their manifestations on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in our hospital. With the use of MRI and the specific autoantibody NMO-IgG, NMO can be diagnosed earlier and more accurately.