Medical Procedures/Testing Neurological Dysfunction

Question 1

Cerebral Angiography

Answer 1

• invasive procedure that can determine that narrowing or blockage of an artery within the brain
• used when Dx a potential CVA, brain tumors, aneurysm or vascular malformation
• Catheter threaded up through the body into an artery within the nex and contrast dye is released into the bloodstream. Series of X-rays are taken

Question 2

Computed tomography (CT scan)

Answer 2

• Brain scan imaging (non-invasive)
• Provides cross sections of the area tested with precise two dimensional views of bones, tissues, and organs
• Dyes or contrast are occasionally used to provide the best view of any pathology that may exist within the tissues
• CT scan of brain/SC may rule out vascular malformations, tumors, cysts, herniated disks, hemorrhage, epilepsy, spinal stenosis, intracranial bleeding, and head injury

Question 3

Discography

Answer 3

• invasive procedure to evaluate the integrity and pathology of a spinal disk
• Contrast dye is injected an CT scanning is performed in order to better assess suspected damaged areas of intervertebral disks

Question 4

Electroencephalography (EEG)

Answer 4

• non-invasive procedure that can continuously measure electrical activity of the brain using multiple electrodes attached to the skull
• Baseline electrical activity is determined, and then various stimuli presented and brain waves are analyzed
• An EEG used to rule out seizure disorders, brain death, brain tumors, brain damage, inflammation, alcoholism, select psychiatric disorders, and degenerative disorders that affect the brain

Question 5

Electromyography (EMG)

Answer 5

Invasive procedure that is used to assess nerve and muscle dysfunction or spinal cord disease

• Records electrical activity from the brain or spinal cord to the peripheral nerve root being tested
• EMG rules out muscle pathology, spinal cord disease, denervated muscle, LMN injury

Question 6

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Answer 6

• Brain scan imaging that is typically non-invasive and provides detailed images including tissues, organs, bones, and nerves.
• A contrasts dye may be used to enhance imaging of certain tissues
• MRI rules out tumors of the brain or spinal cord, MS, and head trauma

Question 7

Myelography

Answer 7

• Invasive procedure of the spinal canal using contrast dye and x-ray imaging
• The procedure has a high risk for headache following the spinal tap
• Used to rule out potential abnormalities surrounding the subarachnoid space, spinal nerve injury, herniated disks, fractures, back or leg pathology and spinal tumors

Question 8

Nerve Conduction Velocity (NVC)

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Positron emission tomography (PET)

Answer 9

• Brain scan imaging that provides two and three dimensional pictures of brain activity
• used to rule out cerebral Circulatory pathology, metabolism dysfunction, tumors, blood flow, and Brian changes following injury or drug abuse

Question 10

Spinal Puncture (lumbar)

Answer 10

• Invasive procedure that inserts a needle through lumbar puncture below the level of L1-L2 form cerebral spinal fluid sample
• most commonly performed at the L3-L4 level
• rules out hemorrhage, inflammation, infection, meningitis, tumor