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Diagnostic Tests/Tools for diagnosing brain injuries
Physicians are able to use a variety of diagnostic imaging techniques as well as chemical and metabolic analyses to diagnose, manage and treat neurological disease. Procedure results can be immediate or may take several hours to process. Below are some of the more common screening tests:
- Laboratory screening tests of blood, urine and other substances.
- Neurological examination.
- Fluoroscopy – this x-ray uses a continuous or pulsed beam of low-dose radiation to produce continuous images of a body part in motion. Fluoroscopy is often used to evaluate the flow of blood through arteries.
- Angiography – this test is used to detect blockages of arteries and veins. A cerebral angiogram can determine the degree of narrowing or obstruction of an artery or blood vessel in the brain, head or neck.
- Brain Scans – these imaging techniques help in diagnosing tumors, blood vessel malformations or bleeding in the brain. Types include: computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography.
- Computed tomography (CT scan) – a noninvasive, painless procedure that help doctors view the brain and spine. The CT scan can detect bone and vascular irregularities, brain damage from a brain injury and other disorders.
- Electroencephalography (EEG) – This test monitors brain activity through the skull. EEG is used to help diagnose brain damage from head injuries, inflammation of the brain and/or spinal cord and other brain disorders. This test is painless and risk-free and is often performed in a doctor’s office, a hospital or testing facility.
- Electromyography (EMG) – Used to diagnose nerve and muscle dysfunction. The test involves inserting very fine wire electrodes into a muscle to assess changes in electrical voltage that occur during movement and when a muscle is at rest. Many patients report this test is somewhat uncomfortable.
- Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV) – this test is oftentimes performed in conjunction with an EMG. An NCV test measures electrical energy by determining the nerve’s ability to send a signal. There is no discomfort or risk associated with the NCV test.
- Electronystagmography (ENG) – A group of tests which are used to diagnose involuntary eye movement, dizziness, balance disorders and some brain functions. The test is painless and risk free and often performed at an imaging center.
- Evoked potentials (evoked response) – Measures the electrical signals to the brain caused by hearing, touch, or sight. These tests are used to monitor brain activity with coma patients and confirm brain death. The tests are painless and risk-free.
- Auditory evoked potentials – used to assess high frequency hearing loss, diagnose damage to the acoustic nerve and auditory pathways in the brainstem as well as to detect acoustic neuromas.
- Visual evoked potentials – detects loss of vision from optic nerve damage.
- Somatosensory evoked potentials – measures response from stimuli to the peripheral nerves and can detect nerve or spinal cord damage or nerve degeneration.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – This test uses computer-generated radio waves and a powerful magnetic field to produce detailed images of body structures including tissues, organs, bones, and nerves. MRIs can document brain injury from trauma as well as help to diagnose brain and spinal cord tumors, eye disease, inflammation, infection and vascular irregularities that could lead to a stroke. The test is painless and risk-free
- Functional MRI (fMRI) – a test which uses the blood’s magnetic properties to produce real-time images of blood flow to certain areas of the brain. This imaging process is helpful in assessing brain damage from head injury or degenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, MS, strokes and brain tumors.
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET) – PET scans are used to detect or highlight tumors and diseased tissue, show blood flow, measure cellular and/or tissue metabolism and determine brain changes following injury. PET scans are painless and relatively risk-free. PET scans provide two and three dimensional pictures of the brain’s activity by measuring radioactive isotopes which are injected into the bloodstream.
- Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) – a nuclear imaging test that is used to evaluate certain brain functions.
- Thermography – Also called digital infrared thermal imaging, a Thermography is used to detect vascular disease of the head and neck, soft tissue injury and various neuromusculoskeletal disorders. The test does not use any radiation and is considered safe, risk-free and noninvasive.
Ultrasound Imaging – Sonography uses high-frequency sound waves to obtain images inside the body. This test is painless, noninvasive and risk free and usually takes about 15 to 30 minutes to complete.
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