Transillumination

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Infant brain test

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Transillumination

Definition:

Transillumination is the shining of a light through a body cavity or organ.

How the test is performed:

The room lights are dimmed or turned off so that the appropriate part of the body may be seen more easily. A bright light is then pointed at a location on the body, typically the head, scrotum, chest of a premature or newborn infant, or breast of an adult female.

Transillumination is also sometimes used to find blood vessels.

How to prepare for the test:

No preparation is necessary for this test.

How the test will feel:

There is no discomfort associated with this test.

Why the test is performed:

This test is most commonly performed on newborns or infants with hydrocephalus, or males suspected of having a hydrocele. The test may also be performed on breast tissue to detect lesions or cysts. In newborns, a bright halogen light may be used to transilluminate the chest cavity if it is suspected they have a pneumothorax.

Transillumination through the chest is only possible on small newborns. Diagnosis of pneumothorax is always confirmed by chest x-ray. In general, transillumination is not a particularly good test for any of these disorders, and further tests, such as an x-ray or ultrasound, are needed to confirm the diagnosis.

Review Date: 5/4/2004
Reviewed By: Daniel Rauch, MD, FAAP, Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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