Table 1:

Patient characteristics and additional procedures

No. (%)
No.53
Mean (SD) age65.0 (10.8)
No. (%) male43 (81.1)
Mean delay in diagnosis (mo)9.2 ± 11.1
Symptoms at presentation
    Bilateral motor symptoms48 (90.6)
    Sensory symptoms20 (37.7)
    Bowel or bladder symptoms13 (24.5)
    Focal unilateral motor deficit3 (5.7)
Initial working diagnosis
    Spinal stenosis13 (24.5)
    Myelopathy NOS10 (18.9)
    Transverse myelitis9 (17.0)
    Ischemic myelopathy4 (7.6)
    Peripheral neuropathy3 (5.7)
    Myopathy2 (3.8)
    NMO2 (3.8)
    CIDP2 (3.8)
    Other8 (15.1)
Additional interventions
    Systemic steroids18 (34.0)
    IVIG5 (9.4)
    Surgery6 (11.3)
    Biopsy2 (3.8)
    Plasma exchange4 (7.6)
    Rituximab2 (3.8)
No. of additional spine MRIs or CTs until diagnosis
    110 (18.9)
    28 (15.1)
    312 (22.6)
    412 (22.6)
    ≥511 (20.8)
  • Note:—NOS indicates not otherwise specified; NMO, neuromyelitis optica; CIDP, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.