The exclusion of relevant differential diagnoses is crucial in the establishment of
the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Neuromyelitis optica and Susac-Syndrome are rare
but because of different therapeutic approaches and prognoses important differential
diagnoses of multiple sclerosis. While the former is increasingly considered to be
rather an independent disease than a variant of multiple sclerosis, the diagnosis
of the latter is quite often completely missed. This review summarizes the most important
aspects of both disorders with a focus on features facilitating the discrimination
from multiple sclerosis.
Keywords
Multiple sclerosis - neuromyelitis optica - Susac-Syndrome - differential diagnosis