Transverse myelitis | Radiology Reference Article | Radiopaedia.org (2025)

Transverse myelitis, also known as acute transverse myelitis, is an inflammatory condition affecting both halves (ventral and dorsal) of the spinal cord and associated with rapidly progressive motor, sensory, and autonomic dysfunction.

MRI is the most useful imaging modality, which generally shows a long segment (3-4 segments or more) of T2 increased signal occupying greater than two-thirds of the cross-sectional area of the cord, with variable pattern of enhancement and no diffusion restriction.

Epidemiology

The incidence of acute transverse myelitis is 1-4 cases per million people per year ⁷.It affects individuals of all ages with peaks at ages 10-19 years and 30-39 years ⁷.There is no sex or familial predisposition and usually no prior history of neurologic abnormality.

Clinical presentation

The clinical course is highly variable but typically evolves over hours or days.

Symptoms and signs are typically bilateral and include:

• para- or tetraparesis

• sensory impairment with sensory level

• sphincter dysfunction

Diagnosis

As the diagnosis does not have a sensitive and specific laboratory test, histology is usually not obtained, particularly as biopsy of the spinal cord has a high morbidity. Imaging features overlap with other inflammatory and neoplastic entities. A set of diagnostic criteria have been proposed by the Transverse Myelitis Consortium Working Group ⁷:

• inclusion criteria

  • development of sensory, motor, or autonomic dysfunction attributable to the spinal cord

  • bilateral signs and symptoms (though not necessarily symmetric)

  • clearly defined sensory level

  • exclusion of extra-axial compression by neuroimaging (MRI or myelography; CT is not adequate)

  • inflammation within the spinal cord demonstrated by CSF pleocytosis or increased IgG index or gadolinium enhancement

  • progression to nadir between 4 hours and 21 days after the onset of symptoms

• exclusion criteria

  • radiation to the spine within the last 10 years

  • arterial distribution clinical deficit consistent with thrombosis of the anterior spinal artery

  • abnormal flow voids on the surface of the spinal cord consistent with spinal dural arteriovenous fistula

• exclusion criteria for idiopathic acute transverse myelitis

  • connective tissue disease

  • CNS infection

  • brain MRI abnormalities suggestive of multiple sclerosis

  • history of clinically apparent optic neuritis

Pathology

Pathology may reveal perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates, necrosis, and demyelination.

Etiology

In many cases, it is idiopathic, i.e. no underlying cause is identified. In some patients, however, an etiology is identified ¹¹:

• acute infection (most commonly viral)

• post-infection, parainfectious, or post-vaccination (e.g. ADEM)

• multiple sclerosis

• neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD)

• myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD)

• connective tissue disease (e.g. systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren disease, antiphospholipid syndrome)

• neurosarcoidosis

• systemic malignancy (e.g. paraneoplastic)

• vasculitis

• atopy and allergy (atopic myelitis)⁹

• CTLA4 haploinsufficiency with autoimmune infiltration ¹²

• immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) ¹³

Radiographic features

Lesions may occur anywhere within the cord, with the thoracic cord being the most frequently involved site.

CT

• variable enlargement of the spinal cord

• variable contrast enhancement patterns (including no enhancement)

MRI

Up to 40% of cases have no findings on MRI ⁸. In the remainder, the appearance is variable and non-specific:

• there is a large variation in lesion size, however, they most commonly extend for 3-4 spinal segments (i.e. longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis) ³

• lesions typically occupy greater than two-thirds of the cross-sectional area of the cord ³

• there is variable enlargement of the spinal cord

Typical signal characteristics include:

• T1:isointense or hypointense

• T2:poorly delineated hyperintense signal

• T1 C+ (Gd):variable enhancement patterns (none, diffuse, patchy, peripheral)

Treatment and prognosis

Treatment of secondary acute transverse myelitis depends on the underlying cause. Corticosteroids and other immunosuppressives are typically given empirically in idiopathic cases.

One-third of patients recover with little or no sequelae, one-third are left with a moderate degree of permanent disability, and one-third are left with severe disabilities ³.

Differential diagnosis

General imaging differential considerations include:

• longitudinally extensive spinal cord lesion

• spinal cord infarct

  • spinal cord is usually enlarged

  • hyperintense on T2 weighted images and DWI

  • post-contrast enhancement may or may not be present (enhancement is usually present in the subacute stage)

  • signal intensity abnormality may be limited to the central grey matter or may involve most of the cross-sectional area of the cord

  • signal abnormality typically extends over multiple vertebral body segments

  • can occur at any location in the cord but has a propensity for the upper thoracic or thoracolumbar regions

  • vertebral body T2 hyperintensity may occasionally be seen (due to concomitant infarction)

• intramedullary neoplasm

  • invariable spinal cord expansion

  • the majority show at least some contrast enhancement

  • commonly associated with cysts and syringohydromyelia

  • may have evidence of prior hemorrhage

  • slowly progressive clinical course