Multiple spotty lesions of the spinal cord in a Chinese patient with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis.

•The first case of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) in China, an area that is non-endemic for HTLV-1, is reported.•The patient showed multiple spotty lesions in the cervical spinal cord by MRI.•The diagnosis was delayed for 4 years without testing for anti-HTLV-1 antibody.•An HTLV-1 serology test should be considered for patients with paraparesis, even in China.