Radionuclide cisternogram

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Lumbar puncture

Overview

Risks

Results

Radionuclide cisternogram

Alternative Names:

Intrathecal scan; Spinal cord scan; CSF flow scan; Cisternogram

What the risks are:

Risks associated with a lumbar puncture include pain at the injection site and infection.

The amount of radiation used during the nuclear scan is very small, and virtually all of the radiation is gone within a few days. There have been no documented cases of injury or damage caused by the radioisotope used with this scan. However, as with any radiation exposure, caution is advised if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

In extremely rare cases, a person will develop an allergic reaction to the radioisotope used during the scan. This may include a serious anaphylactic reaction.

Special considerations:

This procedure requires multiple scans, and the entire test may take 48 - 72 hours. You must be able to lie still during the scan.

References:

Spelle L, Boulin A, Tainturier C, Visot A, Graveleau P, Pierot L. Neuroimaging features of spontaneous intracranial hypotension.Neuroradiology. 2001 Aug;43(8):622-7.

Spieth ME, Kasner DL. Traumatic thoracic thecal sac laceration, leak, and pleural effusion diagnosed by radionuclide cisternogram. Clin Nucl Med. 2002 Nov;27(11):830-1.

Lund VJ, Savy L, Lloyd G, Howard D. Optimum imaging and diagnosis of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea. J Laryngol Otol. 2000 Dec;114(12):988-92.

Review Date: 9/21/2005
Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. Editorial and Jonathan Gross, M.D., Department of Radiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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