Objective:To investigate the magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) findings of spinal cord between neuromyelitis optica(NMO)

and multiple sclerosis(MS).Methods:Subjects who were diagnosed or suspected as NMO or MS in the hospital since 2004 underwent free MRI(1.5T)scanning and imaging analysis of the brain

spinal cord and eye free.with reference to magnetic records

the results of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)and visual evoked potential(VEP)

patients who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for the latest diagnostic criteria for NMO or McDonald Criteria for MS were enrolled and the follow-up study were carried out.Results:41 patients with NMO and 121patients with MS were included in this study.As to spinal cord injury

In NMO

most patients’number of affected segments was more than 5(78.1%)

and most of the patients suffered either cervical spinal cord injury or cervical-thoracic spinal cord joint injury(80.5%).The lesions changed continually

and the spinal cord swelled obviously in acute phase

with white and gray matter of spinal cord injured simultaneously.For most MS patients

the thoracic spinal injury was frequent(46.6%).There were 41 patients(59.4%)whose affected segments were more than 3

but the affection was discontinuous and progressive

and the majority was white matter injury.There was statistical difference in the affected segments between the two groups(P<0.001)and NMO had the longest affected segments.Conclusion:The spinal cord injuries in NMO and MS were different to a certain degree

so MRI was possible to distinguish NMOfromMS.