Certified Multiple Sclerosis Specialist (CMSC)
EXAM TEST QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026
|INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the primary pathological feature of multiple
sclerosis (MS)?
A. Neuronal degeneration
B. Peripheral nerve inflammation
C. Immune-mediated demyelination of the CNS
D. Cerebrovascular ischemia
Correct answer: C – MS involves autoimmune-mediated
demyelination in the central nervous system.
2. Which immune cells are primarily involved in MS
pathogenesis?
A. Eosinophils
B. Neutrophils
C. T and B lymphocytes
D. Platelets
Correct answer: C – Autoreactive T cells and B cells drive CNS
inflammation.
3. The most common initial disease course of MS is:
A. Primary progressive MS
B. Secondary progressive MS
C. Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS)
,D. Progressive-relapsing MS
Correct answer: C – RRMS accounts for the majority of initial
diagnoses.
4. Which diagnostic tool is most sensitive for detecting MS
lesions?
A. CT scan
B. EEG
C. MRI of brain and spinal cord
D. PET scan
Correct answer: C – MRI is the gold standard for identifying
demyelinating lesions.
5. Characteristic MRI findings in MS include:
A. Basal ganglia hemorrhage
B. Pituitary enlargement
C. Periventricular white matter lesions (Dawson’s fingers)
D. Diffuse cortical atrophy only
Correct answer: C – Periventricular lesions are classic MS
indicators.
6. Oligoclonal bands in cerebrospinal fluid indicate:
A. Acute infection
B. Tumor markers
C. Intrathecal IgG synthesis
D. Spinal cord trauma
Correct answer: C – They indicate immune activity within the
CNS.
, 7. Which symptom is most commonly reported in MS?
A. Seizures
B. Fatigue
C. Hearing loss
D. Tremor
Correct answer: B – Fatigue is a prevalent and disabling
symptom.
8. Heat sensitivity worsening neurological symptoms is known
as:
A. Lhermitte sign
B. Babinski sign
C. Uhthoff phenomenon
D. Clonus
Correct answer: C – Heat can transiently worsen MS symptoms.
9. Lhermitte sign is described as:
A. Sudden vision loss
B. Aphasia
C. Electric shock-like sensation with neck flexion
D. Muscle cramps only
Correct answer: C – It reflects cervical spinal cord involvement.
10. Optic neuritis commonly presents with:
A. Painful unilateral vision loss
B. Painless bilateral blindness
C. Eye discharge
D. Fixed pupils
EXAM TEST QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026
|INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the primary pathological feature of multiple
sclerosis (MS)?
A. Neuronal degeneration
B. Peripheral nerve inflammation
C. Immune-mediated demyelination of the CNS
D. Cerebrovascular ischemia
Correct answer: C – MS involves autoimmune-mediated
demyelination in the central nervous system.
2. Which immune cells are primarily involved in MS
pathogenesis?
A. Eosinophils
B. Neutrophils
C. T and B lymphocytes
D. Platelets
Correct answer: C – Autoreactive T cells and B cells drive CNS
inflammation.
3. The most common initial disease course of MS is:
A. Primary progressive MS
B. Secondary progressive MS
C. Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS)
,D. Progressive-relapsing MS
Correct answer: C – RRMS accounts for the majority of initial
diagnoses.
4. Which diagnostic tool is most sensitive for detecting MS
lesions?
A. CT scan
B. EEG
C. MRI of brain and spinal cord
D. PET scan
Correct answer: C – MRI is the gold standard for identifying
demyelinating lesions.
5. Characteristic MRI findings in MS include:
A. Basal ganglia hemorrhage
B. Pituitary enlargement
C. Periventricular white matter lesions (Dawson’s fingers)
D. Diffuse cortical atrophy only
Correct answer: C – Periventricular lesions are classic MS
indicators.
6. Oligoclonal bands in cerebrospinal fluid indicate:
A. Acute infection
B. Tumor markers
C. Intrathecal IgG synthesis
D. Spinal cord trauma
Correct answer: C – They indicate immune activity within the
CNS.
, 7. Which symptom is most commonly reported in MS?
A. Seizures
B. Fatigue
C. Hearing loss
D. Tremor
Correct answer: B – Fatigue is a prevalent and disabling
symptom.
8. Heat sensitivity worsening neurological symptoms is known
as:
A. Lhermitte sign
B. Babinski sign
C. Uhthoff phenomenon
D. Clonus
Correct answer: C – Heat can transiently worsen MS symptoms.
9. Lhermitte sign is described as:
A. Sudden vision loss
B. Aphasia
C. Electric shock-like sensation with neck flexion
D. Muscle cramps only
Correct answer: C – It reflects cervical spinal cord involvement.
10. Optic neuritis commonly presents with:
A. Painful unilateral vision loss
B. Painless bilateral blindness
C. Eye discharge
D. Fixed pupils
