Diagnosis criteria of multiple sclerosis (MS) have evolved over time incorporating the imaging findings. The two major changes in the 2017 revision are :

  • the early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis can be made in patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) , demonstration of dissemination of space on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) , and the presence of CSF-specific oligoclonal bands, without the need for demonstration of dissemination of time on MRI
  • symptomatic and/or asymptomatic MRI lesions, except those in the optic nerve, can be considered in the determination of dissemination in space or time.

 

The presence of cerebrospinal-fluid-specific oligoclonal bands allows the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in selected patients.