Defining the natural history of tumefactive demyelination: A retrospective cohort of 257 patients

OBJECTIVE: To describe demographic, clinical, and radiographic features of tumefactive demyelination (TD) and identify factors associated with severe attacks and poor outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective review of TD cases seen at Mayo Clinic, 1990–2021. RESULTS: Of 257 patients with TD, 183/257 (71%) fulfilled the 2017 multiple sclerosis (MS) McDonald criteria at the last follow‐up, 12/257 (5%) had myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody‐associated disease (MOGAD), 0 had aquaporin‐4‐IgG seropositive neuromyelitis optic spectrum disorders (AQP4+ NMOSD), and 62/257 (24%) were cryptogenic. Onset before age 18 was present in 18/257 (7%). Female to male ratio was 1.3:1. Cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal (CSF) bands were present in 95/153 (62%). TD was the first demyelinating attack in 176/257 (69%). At presentation, 59/126 (47%) fulfilled Barkhof criteria for dissemination in space, 59/100 (59%) had apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) restriction, and 57/126 (45%) had mass effect. Despite aggressive clinical presentation at onset, 181/257 (70%) of patients remained fully ambulatory (Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] ≤4) after a 3.0‐year median follow‐up duration. Severe initial attack‐related disability (EDSS ≥4) was more common in patients with motor symptoms (81/143 vs. 35/106, p < 0.0001), encephalopathy (20/143 vs. 2/106, p < 0.0001) and ADC restriction on initial MRI (42/63 vs. 15/33, p = 0.04). Poor long‐term outcome (EDSS ≥4) was more common in patients with older onset age (41.9 ± 15 vs. 36.8 ± 15.6, p = 0.02) and motor symptoms at onset (49/76 vs. 66/171, p < 0.0001). INTERPRETATION: Most TD patients should be considered part of the MS spectrum after excluding MOGAD and NMOSD. Motor symptoms and older age at presentation portend a poor outcome.