Isolated palatal weakness without optic neuritis as the presenting manifestation of multiple sclerosis and its diagnostic dilemma with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in a young boy

Abstract

We present a case of a young boy who at initial presentation was diagnosed as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) but subsequently on follow-up was diagnosed as multiple sclerosis (MS). Differentiating ADEM from MS in their first presentation can be tricky as the features may not be typical of anyone. The importance lies in the close follow-up of these patients.

Keywords

• acute disseminated encephalomyelitis
• magnetic resonance imaging
• multiple sclerosis
• steroids