Key result
Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula accounts for ~25% of longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis cases.
Why the study?
The different etiologies and key characteristics of Longitudinally Extensive Transverse Myelitis (LETM) and common diagnostic pitfalls were not well described.
Comparison
Inflammatory myelitis vs spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (SDAVF) etiologies
Design
Retrospective observational study
Authors
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May support vascular imaging in LETM evaluation; leaves open optimal diagnostic sequence in prospective studies.
Observational (n=20)
No
Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula is a common cause of longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis, highlighting the importance of considering vascular etiologies and performing MR angiography before diagnostic lumbar puncture or empirical steroid therapy.
Abbas et al. (2025) conducted an observational in Longitudinally Extensive Transverse Myelitis (LETM) (n=20). Etiologies of Longitudinally Extensive Transverse Myelitis was evaluated on Etiologies of LETM. Among patients with longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis, the most common specific etiology was spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (25%), while inflammatory causes comprised 65%.
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