Rheography

For the diagnosis of diseases in the open brain after craniotomy is resorted to only during operations. However, the disease can be suspected based on the patient's complaints, and some characters, such as violations of sensitivity, reduction of muscle strength, the appearance of pathological reflexes. Before the invention of methods of instrumental diagnosis of the doctors were content with just talking with the patient and survey it with different hammers and needles.

Revolution in medicine made a discovery B. Roentgen at the end of the XIX century. X-rays subsequently named in his honor. Incidentally, he also brand name viagra performed the world's first X-ray, it was a radiograph of his wife's hand. X-ray study of the skull called craniography. The method allows to obtain information about the skull, while the brain itself is "invisible", like a tumor. The presence of a pathological process in the brain can be judged only by the concomitant changes in the skull, for example, by the presence of foci of calcium deposits, and the thinning of bones and bone loss. Radiography can give an idea about the state of skull sutures and fontanelles.

Expanded the scope of X-ray diagnosis of diseases nerve-dimensional system W. Dundee. In 1918 he proposed the use of air-contrast space, where the circulating cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), washed brain and spinal cord and fill its cavity. CSF regulates the intracranial pressure, it happens through the exchange of gases and nutrients in the central nervous system. In chemical composition it is similar to blood serum. If a space filled with CSF, to introduce air or another gas such as oxygen, these cavities are clearly visible on radiographs. The method was called pneumoencephalography. It is used in the diagnosis of hydrocephalus (water on the brain), inflammatory diseases of the meninges (meningitis, arachnoiditis), to clarify the localization of tumors. However, research is often accompanied by headache, high fever, so that it is held only in a hospital under the supervision of experienced physicians. After it is necessary to observe bed rest for 5-6 days.

Introduce a contrast agent (but not the air, and water-soluble drug) can be the vessels of the brain: either directly into the carotid artery, or through a catheter (thin tube) into the elbow or the subclavian artery. On radiographs obtained by the image of the vascular bed. Such an investigation has been called angiography. It helps in the diagnosis of tumors, vascular diseases (aneurysms, malformations), hematomas, abscesses. Before the study should inform the doctor on what medications you are allergic and do not forget about iodine and iodine-containing drugs, since many products contain radiopaque iodine.
However, for the diagnosis of many diseases of the nervous system of these techniques is not enough.

This problem is solved by using computed tomography, open-American physicist A. Cormac. In 1979, for his discovery he was awarded the Nobel Prize. During the study, head layers scanned by a narrow beam of X-rays, the detector picks up their loss when they pass through different density structure on the screen is reconstructed in two or three-dimensional image. Computed tomography in 100 times more efficient than conventional radiography, it can "see" the gray and white matter brain tissue tumors. Method beskroven, convenient, no contraindications, quickly and with a high degree of reliability to determine the location, size, shape and even the nature of brain lesions. However, it is expensive, and not every hospital can afford a scanner.

"See" the brain is possible and with the help of ultrasound. As used in this study, the principle of ultrasonic location gave the name of the method - echoencephalograph. It is widely used to detect the bulk processes in the brain - tumors, abscesses, cysts, hematomas, as well as for the diagnosis of elevated intracranial pressure. To study requires no special preparation of the patient. In order to eliminate surface noise, lubricate the skin with a special gel, highly conductive ultrasound. Echoencephalograph virtually painless and harmless, has no contraindications and can be used even in children and pregnant women.

Learn how to "feel" a brain, you can use the registration of its electrical activity (biopotential). This method is called electroencephalography, and it uses the same principle as in electrocardiography for the diagnosis of heart disease. The study is usually carried out in the morning: no earlier than 2 hours after eating, smoking. Some medications cancel 3 days prior to the study, so please report your doctor about medications you are taking. To survey the patient fits comfortably in a chair or laid on the couch, his head put on a rubber helmet and put metal plates (electrodes), which connect the wires to the input device. The output is a graphical representation of the difference between the oscillations of bioelectric potentials of the living brain, called the electroencephalogram (EEG). Simultaneously recorded action currents generated by many parts of the brain.

EEG - a complex curve consisting of waves of different frequencies with varying amplitudes. These waves are denoted by Greek letters "alpha", "beta", "delta", "theta". EEG differ depending on whether the patient is asleep or awake, what emotions feel. The EEG of healthy adults in a state of relative quiescence, reveal two main types of rhythms: alfa-rhythm and beta rhythm. In various diseases of the brain occur more or less serious violations of the normal patterns of EEG.
EEG helps in the diagnosis of epilepsy, tumors, cardiovascular and infectious diseases of the brain. Your doctor may order such a study and healthy people (for professional selection), especially for those who have to work in stressful situations or hazardous conditions of production, as well as wanton frequent headaches, migraines, dizziness, double vision, increased fatigue, post traumatic brain injury. Often electroencephalography allows diagnosis in early disease and appropriate treatment. A study in dynamics to evaluate the effectiveness of therapy. Recording of the electroencephalogram during surgery helps to monitor the condition of the patient and adjust the depth of anesthesia.

To study the cerebral blood flow Viagra the era of effective treatment and diagnosis of diseases of the vascular system of the brain used rheoencephalography. The electrodes are fixed on the skin at certain points in the head, and the device (rheography) continuously measures the conductivity of tissue located between the electrodes. Readings recorded on the moving paper in the form reoentsefalogrammy, reflecting all the variations of blood flow in the vessels of the brain. Rheoencephalography does not violate the activity of the brain and is harmless to the examinee.
Thus, for the diagnosis of diseases of the brain has a wide arsenal of techniques. To use each of them has its own indications and contraindications. The doctor will choose the most suitable for you.