|
|
Cerebral Palsy
See Also:
Cerebral
Palsy: Introduction
Cerbral Palsy: Types
Cerebral
Palsy: Causes & Risk Factors
Cerebral
Palsy: Signs & Symptoms
Cerebral Palsy:
Medical Tests & Diagnosis Methods
Cerebral
Palsy: Treatment & Prevention Options
Tests & Diagnosis
There is no specific medical test to diagnose cerebral
palsy. The diagnosis is generally made based on
information gathered by child’s health care provider
and other consultants.
The information gathered includes
medical histories of both the parents’
families, the mother’s medical problems
before and during pregnancy. A detailed account
of the pregnancy, labor, delivery, and neonatal
(newborn) period is also collected.
Information with regard to
child’s medical problems, physical and
mental development are noted.
A complete questionnaire is
required to be answered in order to properly
diagnose.
Imaging studies:
Neuroimaging tests such as ultrasound, CT scans and MRI
of brain and spinal cord are carried out to help
identify the cause and extent of cerebral palsy.
Ultrasound of brain:
Harmless sound waves are used to detect the
structural and anatomic abnormalities such as
hemorrhage or damage due to lack of oxygen in the
brain.
CT scan of brain:
Malformations, hemorrhage and some other
abnormalities are clearly detected using this
technique.
MRI of brain: MRI
of brain determines the brain structure and its
abnormalities.
MRI of spinal cord: MRI
of spinal cord is essential in children suffering
from spasticity of legs and worsening of bowel
and bladder function. These abnormalities may or
may not be related to cerebral palsy.
Other tests:
Electroencephalography
(EEG): This test is important to
diagnose seizure disorders.
Electromyography (EMG)
and Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS):
These studies are essential to distinguish
cerebral palsy from other muscular or nervous
disorders (6).
See Also:
Cerebral
Palsy: Introduction
Cerbral Palsy: Types
Cerebral
Palsy: Causes & Risk Factors
Cerebral
Palsy: Signs & Symptoms
Cerebral Palsy:
Medical Tests & Diagnosis Methods
Cerebral
Palsy: Treatment & Prevention Options
Article by Kona Vishnu, MS
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com
|
