Abstract
We describe a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus who developed transverse myelitis and optic neuritis. Magnetic resonance imaging showed the presence of an abnormal signal in a normal‐sized spinal cord which corresponded to the patient's neurologic deficit. No abnormality was recognized in either optic nerve. Magnetic resonance may prove to be a useful imaging modality for the diagnosis of a transverse myelopathy in systemic lupus erythematosus.