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Lumbar puncture (LP), also known as a spinal tap, is a medical procedure in which a needle is inserted into the spinal canal, most commonly to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for diagnostic testing. The main reason for a lumbar puncture is to help diagnose diseases of the central nervous system, including the brain and
The CSF tap test, sometimes lumbar tap test or Miller Fisher Test, is a medical test that is used to decide whether shunting of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) would be helpful in a patient with suspected normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).
There are no specific signs or symptoms that can indicate meningitis, and a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to examine the cerebrospinal fluid is recommended for diagnosis. [47] Lumbar puncture is contraindicated if there is a mass in the brain (tumor or abscess) or the intracranial pressure (ICP) is elevated, as it may lead to brain herniation.
Chronic meningitis is defined by signs and symptoms being present longer than four weeks and includes pleocytosis, or the presence of inflammatory cells in the cerebrospinal fluid. [2] The initial test is usually a lumbar puncture to collect cerebrospinal fluid for analysis.
Aseptic meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges, a membrane covering the brain and spinal cord, in patients whose cerebral spinal fluid test result is negative with routine bacterial cultures. Aseptic meningitis is caused by viruses , mycobacteria , spirochetes , fungi , medications , and cancer malignancies. [ 1 ]
The fungus behind a spate of deadly meningitis cases last year linked to medical clinics in Mexico was found to have aggressively attacked the base of patients’ brains, researchers said ...
Lumbar puncture ("spinal tap") is used to acquire CSF. The Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test of the CSF is the preferred test for making a diagnosis of neurosyphilis. [14] A positive test confirms neurosyphilis but a negative result does not rule out neurosyphilis.
Of course, if you're feeling sick, it’s a good idea to test yourself so you can know the full picture of what you’re dealing with, says Thomas Russo, MD, a professor and chief of infectious ...