{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,26]],"date-time":"2026-09-26T19:01:39Z","timestamp":1790449299536,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":88,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"24","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,9]],"date-time":"2025-12-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1765238400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) share features that may confound diagnosis. DCM is caused by degenerative changes in the cervical spine leading to spinal cord compression and injury, resulting in significant disability. Misdiagnosis of DCM for a similar neurological condition can lead to further spinal cord damage from delayed surgical treatment. Here we review the diagnostic criteria, clinical signs and symptoms, and imaging typical for DCM, and two of its clinical mimics, MS and ALS. Shared motor symptoms of all three conditions can make diagnosis difficult, especially early in disease course. Noteworthy differences include neck and shoulder pain in DCM, visual disturbances in MS, and bulbar symptoms and the absence of sensory deficits in ALS. In DCM and MS, MRI is used to support the diagnosis, with specific findings on MRI that differentiate DCM versus MS. In ALS, MRI is used to rule out differential diagnoses. Applying the diagnostic criteria for MS and ALS, as well as understanding the typical presentation and MRI findings of DCM, is crucial. Through discussion of these conditions, this review aims to help limit misdiagnosis rates, allowing for early management, which can improve long-term patient outcomes.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm14248711","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,9]],"date-time":"2025-12-09T12:42:43Z","timestamp":1765284163000},"page":"8711","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy Diagnosis and Its Differentiation from Neurological Mimics, MS and ALS: A Literature Review"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-2769-6737","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sydney","family":"Klumb","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Osteopathic Medicine, Rocky Vista University, Englewood, CO 80112, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lauren","family":"Haley","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Osteopathic Medicine, Rocky Vista University, Englewood, CO 80112, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chase","family":"Hathaway","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Osteopathic Medicine, Rocky Vista University, Englewood, CO 80112, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-7182-2587","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jonathan","family":"Irby","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Osteopathic Medicine, Rocky Vista University, Englewood, CO 80112, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Johnny","family":"Cheng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Osteopathic Medicine, Rocky Vista University, Englewood, CO 80112, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jacob","family":"Rumley","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Spine and Orthopedics, Thornton, CO 80229, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55S","DOI":"10.1177\/21925682211030871","article-title":"Establishing Diagnostic Criteria for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy [AO Spine RECODE-DCM Research Priority Number 3]","volume":"12","author":"Hilton","year":"2022","journal-title":"Global Spine J."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1259","DOI":"10.1097\/BRS.0000000000004389","article-title":"Proposing a Framework to Understand the Role of Imaging in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Enhancement of MRI Protocols Needed for Accurate Diagnosis and Evaluation","volume":"47","author":"Zipser","year":"2022","journal-title":"Spine"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1216","DOI":"10.1038\/s41393-021-00711-8","article-title":"Increasing Awareness of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A Preventative Cause of Non-Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury","volume":"59","author":"Zipser","year":"2021","journal-title":"Spinal Cord"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hilton, B., Tempest-Mitchell, J., Davies, B., and Kotter, M. 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