Diagnostic problems in multiple sclerosis: Overreliance on neuroimaging

Atypical manifestations of multiple sclerosis (MS) can mislead the physicia n into misdiagnosis. The correct diagnosis of MS depends on a combination o f clinical and laboratory evidence. The introduction of newer neuroimaging studies has decreased the proportion of overdiagnoses of MS. Overreliance o n either clinical or laboratory (currently neuroimaging) data can lead to u nderdiagnosis. The physician should consider the possibility of an atypical clinical presentation of MS in the differential diagnosis of patients with disease of the central nervous system.