A lumbar puncture, also known as a spinal tap, is a common clinical procedure that uses a hollow needle to penetrate the spinal canal and access the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain and ...

A lumbar puncture (spinal tap) is a common test doctors use to check for signs of MS in your spinal fluid. But a lumbar puncture on its own isn’t enough to confirm an MS diagnosis. Diagnosing multiple ...

Why do I need a lumbar puncture? A lumbar puncture can check for cancer cells or for infection in the CSF. Doctors remove some of the CSF to test for cancer cells. They use a needle to take a sample ...

Post-dural puncture headaches often develop within a few days of a lumbar puncture (spinal tap). They usually go away on their own within a week or two, but if they persist, a doctor might recommend ...

Lumbar puncture is the only test that can directly confirm a diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Most people with suspected bacterial meningitis do not need neuroimaging before a lumbar puncture. This ...

Lumbar puncture, a diagnostic procedure often undertaken in acute medical units, is a technical procedure that requires skill, knowledge and experience. Lumbar punctures used to be performed mostly by ...

To the Editor: Hasbun et al. (Dec. 13 issue) 1 show that in adults with suspected meningitis, clinical findings can guide the decision to perform cranial computed tomography (CT) before lumbar ...

Cerebrospinal fluid analysis is a test used to diagnose conditions that affect the central nervous system. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear liquid that is produced mostly in the ventricles of the ...