SynthesisEuropean journal of neurology2023
Non-demyelinating disorders mimicking and misdiagnosed as NMOSD: a literature review.
Synthesis in European journal of neurology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 20 citations in OpenAlex.
- Consensus Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders (NMOSD): The MENACTRIMS Guidelines.CNS drugs · 2026Guideline
- Use of MRI in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease - MAGNIMS consensus recommendations.Nature reviews. Neurology · 2026Review
- Current Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Neuro-Ophthalmic Imaging: A Narrative Approach.Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Tumefactive Multiple Sclerosis Mimicking a High-Grade Glioma: A Case Report and Literature Review.Reports (MDPI) · 2026Article
- Primary large B-cell lymphoma of the central nervous system mimicking inflammatory myelitis at initial presentation.Journal of clinical and experimental hematopathology : JCEH · 2025Article
- Monogenic Mimics of Neuroinflammatory Phenotypes in Children and Young Adults: An Evolving Landscape.Neurology. Genetics · 2025Review
- Current imaging applications, radiomics, and machine learning modalities of CNS demyelinating disorders and its mimickers.Journal of neurology · 2025Review
- Real-world multicentre cohort study on choices and effectiveness of immunotherapies in NMOSD and MOGAD.Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry · 2025Article
- Overlap syndrome of anti-aquaporin-4 positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and mixed connective tissue disease: a case report.Frontiers in immunology · 2025Article
- Optical coherence tomography angiography of peripapillary vessel density in non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and demyelinating optic neuritis.Frontiers in neurology · 2024Article
- Application and interpretation of core elements of the 2015 NMOSD diagnostic criteria in routine clinical practice.Frontiers in immunology · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
13 authors at 5 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundDifferentiating neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) from its mimics is crucial to avoid misdiagnosis, especially in the absence of aquaporin-4-IgG. While multiple sclerosis (MS) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-IgG associated disease (MOGAD) represent major and well-defined differential diagnoses, non-demyelinating NMOSD mimics remain poorly characterized.
methodsWe conducted a systematic review on PubMed/MEDLINE to identify reports of patients with non-demyelinating disorders that mimicked or were misdiagnosed as NMOSD. Three novel cases seen at the authors' institutions were also included. The characteristics of NMOSD mimics were analyzed and red flags associated with misdiagnosis identified.
resultsA total of 68 patients were included; 35 (52%) were female. Median age at symptoms onset was 44 (range, 1-78) years. Fifty-six (82%) patients did not fulfil the 2015 NMOSD diagnostic criteria. The clinical syndromes misinterpreted for NMOSD were myelopathy (41%), myelopathy + optic neuropathy (41%), optic neuropathy (6%), or other (12%). Alternative etiologies included genetic/metabolic disorders, neoplasms, infections, vascular disorders, spondylosis, and other immune-mediated disorders. Common red flags associated with misdiagnosis were lack of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis (57%), lack of response to immunotherapy (55%), progressive disease course (54%), and lack of magnetic resonance imaging gadolinium enhancement (31%). Aquaporin-4-IgG positivity was detected in five patients by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (n = 2), cell-based assay (n = 2: serum, 1; CSF, 1), and non-specified assay (n = 1).
conclusionsThe spectrum of NMOSD mimics is broad. Misdiagnosis frequently results from incorrect application of diagnostic criteria, in patients with multiple identifiable red flags. False aquaporin-4-IgG positivity, generally from nonspecific testing assays, may rarely contribute to misdiagnosis.
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