Conditions associated with transverse myelitis:
(1) radiation to the spine
(2) thrombosis of the anterior spinal artery
(3) compression of the cord
(4) arteriovenous malformation (AVM)
(5) connective tissue disease (sarcoidosis, SLE, Sjogren's, MCTD, Behcet's, etc)
(6) infection (syphilis, Lyme's, HIV, HSV, EBV, CMV, HHV-6, enterovirus, etc)
(7) multiple sclerosis (MS)
(9) neuromyelitis optica
(10) paraneoplastic syndrome
If no cause is identified after a complete workup then it the TM is termed idiopathic.