Neurology scans are specialized medical procedures to examine the brain, spinal cord, and broader nervous system. These diagnostic tools employ various technologies to create detailed images or measure electrical activity. They provide healthcare professionals with insights into neurological health, helping to identify abnormalities causing symptoms.
Why Neurology Scans Are Performed
Healthcare providers often recommend neurology scans when individuals experience symptoms suggesting a neurological issue. Persistent headaches, unexplained dizziness, seizures, or changes in cognitive function can prompt these tests.
Scans also investigate numbness, weakness, or tingling sensations in the limbs, which could indicate nerve damage or muscle disorders. Conditions like stroke, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, or neurodegenerative diseases often require these techniques. Scans help confirm a diagnosis, monitor disease progression, or guide treatment strategies.
Common Types of Neurology Scans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) employs powerful magnetic fields and radio waves to generate detailed images of internal body structures. Unlike X-rays or CT scans, MRI does not use ionizing radiation, making it suitable for repeated imaging. This technology excels at visualizing soft tissues, providing clear pictures of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and surrounding structures.
MRI is beneficial for detecting brain tumors, identifying lesions associated with multiple sclerosis, and assessing stroke extent. It can also reveal inflammation, structural abnormalities, and bleeding within the brain or spinal cord. Sometimes, a contrast material is injected to enhance the visibility of specific tissues or blood vessels.
Computed Tomography (CT) Scan
A Computed Tomography (CT) scan uses X-rays from multiple angles to create cross-sectional images of the brain. This method provides rapid results, making it useful in emergency situations. CT scans can quickly detect acute issues like bleeding in the brain from an injury, bone fractures, or initial signs of a stroke.
While CT scans utilize radiation, the benefits in urgent diagnostic scenarios often outweigh the risks. They offer clear images of bone structures and can identify certain brain tumors or hydrocephalus. CT scans serve as a rapid assessment tool, often preceding more detailed imaging.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans measure metabolic activity within the brain using a small radioactive tracer, often a glucose analog. This tracer is injected into the bloodstream and accumulates in areas of high metabolic activity. The scanner then detects emissions from this tracer, creating images highlighting brain function.
PET scans assess brain function, identify certain cancers, and diagnose conditions like Alzheimer’s disease by showing reduced glucose uptake in affected brain regions. They can also help locate areas of abnormal activity in epilepsy.
Electroencephalography (EEG)
Electroencephalography (EEG) measures the brain’s electrical activity via scalp electrodes. Brain cells communicate via electrical impulses, and the EEG records these signals as wavy lines. It is painless and does not send electricity into the body.
EEG diagnoses conditions with abnormal brain electrical patterns, like epilepsy and other seizure disorders. It also assesses sleep disorders, evaluates brain function following an injury, or detects inflammation.
Electromyography (EMG) & Nerve Conduction Study (NCS)
Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) are often performed together to evaluate muscle and nerve health and function. An EMG measures muscle electrical activity at rest and during contraction, using a thin needle electrode. This determines if muscles respond properly to nerve signals.
A Nerve Conduction Study measures how fast electrical signals travel along nerves. Surface electrodes stimulate a nerve with a mild electrical impulse, and other electrodes record the response. These tests help diagnose nerve damage, muscle diseases, peripheral neuropathies, carpal tunnel syndrome, and conditions like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Preparing For and Undergoing a Scan
Preparing for a neurology scan involves discussing any medications with your doctor, as some might need adjustment. Inform staff about any allergies, especially to contrast dyes, or conditions like claustrophobia.
During most scans, patients lie still on a table that slides into the machine. MRI machines can be noisy, so earplugs or headphones are often provided for comfort. While procedures are generally painless, some, like EMG, might involve minor discomfort from needle insertions. The healthcare team monitors patients throughout the scan, and communication is maintained via an intercom system.
Interpreting Your Scan Results
After a neurology scan is completed, the images or electrical activity recordings are reviewed by specialized medical professionals. For imaging scans like MRI, CT, and PET, a radiologist interprets the detailed visuals, looking for any abnormalities or signs of disease. For EEG, EMG, and NCS, a neurologist typically analyzes the electrical patterns to assess nerve and muscle function.
These findings are then integrated with a patient’s medical history, symptoms, and results from other tests to form a comprehensive diagnostic picture. The healthcare provider will communicate the results to the patient, explaining what was found and its implications. This discussion often includes outlining any further tests, potential treatment plans, or ongoing monitoring that may be necessary.