Medical Procedures/Testing for Neurological Dysfunction

Question 1

Cerebral angiography

Answer 1

Invasive procedure that determines narrowing or blockage of an artery within the brain. Can help to diagnose CVA, brain tumor, aneurysm, or vascular malformation. Contrast dye released in blood stream and x-rays are taken.

Question 2

Computed tomography (CT scan)

Answer 2

Typically non-invasive brain scan that provides cross-sectional views. Can help to rule out vascular malformations, tumors, cysts, herniated disks, hemorrhage, epilepsy, encephalitis, spinal stenosis, intracranial bleeding, and head injury.

Question 3

Discography

Answer 3

Invasive procedure that injects contrast dye followed by CT scan to evaluate integrity and pathology of spinal disk.

Question 4

Electroencephalography (EEG)

Answer 4

Non-invasive procedure that measures electrical activity of brain using electrodes. Used to rule out seizure disorders, brain death, brain tumors, brain damage, inflammation, alcoholism, psychiatric disorders, and degenerative disorders.

Question 5

Electromyography

Answer 5

Invasive procedure that assesses nerve and muscle dysfunction of spinal cord disease. Rules out muscle pathology, nerve pathology, spinal cord disease, denervated muscle, and lower motor neuron injury.

Question 6

Evoked Potentials

Answer 6

Non-invasive procedure that uses electrodes to record time it takes for an impulse to reach the brain. Used to rule out MS, brain tumor, acoustic neuroma, and spinal cord injury.

Question 7

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Answer 7

Typically non-invasive used to rule out tumors of brain or spinal cord, MS, and head trauma.

Question 8

Myelography

Answer 8

Invasive procedure of spinal canal using contrast dye and x-ray. High risk for headache following spinal tap. Used to rule out abnormalities surrounding subarachnoid space, spinal nerve injury, herniated disks, fractures, back or leg pathology, and spinal tumors.

Question 9

Nerve conduction velocity (NCV)

Answer 9

Non-invasive stimulation of peripheral nerve to determine the nerve action potentials and nerve’s ability to send a signal. Rules out peripheral neuropathies, carpal tunnel syndrome, demyelination pathology, and peripheral nerve compression.

Question 10

Positron emission tomography (PET)

Answer 10

Brain scan imaging to provide 2 and 3-dimension pictures of brain activity. Used to rule out cerebral circulatory pathology, metabolism dysfunction, tumors, blood flow, and brain changes following injury or drug abuse.

Question 11

Spinal puncture (lumbar)

Answer 11

Invasive procedure that inserts a needle below level of L1-2 for cerebral spinal fluid sample. Most commonly performed at L3-4. Rules out hemorrhage, inflammation, infection, meningitis, and tumor.