Diagnostics
Making the diagnosis of MS can be quite challenging
because there is no specific diagnostic test.
Traditionally, the diagnosis is made if there are at least two neurological events referable to the CNS,
separated or disseminated in space (different areas
of the CNS) and time (events occur at different points
in time), with objective evidence of CNS involvement
and all other possible causes of the symptoms are
excluded. The diagnosis is mostly based on history of
neurological symptoms and neurological examination
findings. More recently, magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) findings and other paraclinical testing, such
as spinal fluid analysis, have been used to establish
dissemination in space and time when two clinical
events have not occurred but MS is believed to be the
most likely diagnosis.