Demyelinating Diseases

This chapter reviews demyelinating disorders characterized by loss of myelin, including primary and secondary demyelinating conditions that result in myelin breakdown. The clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria, and imaging findings for multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, and Susac syndrome are discussed. The distribution of white matter lesions in these conditions are described in detail. Secondary demyelinating diseases resulting primarily from infectious and vascular causes are also reviewed, including acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, subcortical arteriosclerotic encephalopathy, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, and CADASIL.