Correlation 7: Multiple Sclerosis

White matter adjacent to the ventricle should be white. Notes the irregular grey areas representing plaques of demyelination adjacent to the ventricle.

A disease with many neurologic manifestations, multiple sclerosis (MS) occurs in adults, often young adults. The cause is not known, but it is thought to be due to abnormal functioning of the immune system. MS leads to neurologic abnormalites through demyelination of axons. Thus, the lesions appear in the white matter. MS lesions can appear anywhere and anytime, so the patient symptoms and signs are quite variable, making the diagnosis a challenge. The course of a patient with MS often variable, and there are times when they get better and times when they develop new problems.