1.

EMG (ELECTROMYOGRAPHY) EMG is most often used when people have symptoms of weakness, and examination shows impaired muscle strength. It can help to tell the difference between muscle weakness caused by injury of a nerve attached to a muscle and weakness due to neurologic disorders. It records the electrical activity from the brain and/or spinal cord to a peripheral nerve root (found in the arms and legs) that controls muscles during contraction and at rest. An EMG is usually done in conjunction with a NCS test, which measures electrical energy by assessing the nerves ability to send a signal. Patients who are preparing to take an EMG or NCV test may be asked to avoid caffeine and not smoke for 2 to 3 hours prior to the test, as well as to avoid aspirin and non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs for 24 hours before the EMG. There is no discomfort or risk associated with this test. EMG can detect problems with muscles during rest or activity. It is indicated in

Alcoholic neuropathy Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Axillary nerve dysfunction Muscular dystrophy Brachial plexopathy Carpal tunnel syndrome Common peroneal nerve dysfunction Denervation (reduced nerve stimulation of a muscle) Dermatomyositis Distal median nerve dysfunction Femoral nerve dysfunction Friedreich's ataxia Guillain-Barre syndrome Mononeuritis multiplex

Mononeuropathy Myopathy Myasthenia gravis Peripheral neuropathy Polymyositis Radial nerve dysfunction Sciatic nerve dysfunction Sensorimotor polyneuropathy Shy-Drager syndrome Tibial nerve dysfunction Ulnar nerve dysfunction

2. EEG An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test to detect problems in the electrical activity of the brain. EEG is used to help diagnose certain seizure disorders, (it is the most useful test in diagnosing epilepsy and its type) loss of consciousness or dementia brain tumors, brain damage from head injuries, inflammation of the brain and/or spinal cord, alcoholism, sub cortical movement disorders study sleep disorders, such as narcolepsy confusion / coma serves as an adjunct test to brain death

Certain psychiatric disorders, and metabolic and degenerative disorders that affect the brain.

EEGs are also used to evaluate sleep disorders, monitor brain activity when a patient has been fully anesthetized or loses consciousness, and confirm brain death.

3. PET (Positron emission tomography) Scan A brain positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test that uses a radioactive substance (called a tracer) to look for disease or injury in the brain. Unlike magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans, which reveal the structure of the brain, a PET scan shows how the brain and its tissues are working.

PET scans of the brain are used To detect brain tumors (cancerous & non cancerous) Measure cellular and/or tissue metabolism; Show blood flow Seizure disorders that do not respond to medical therapy, Alzheimers disease or dementia To determine brain changes following injury or drug abuse, among other uses. Parkinsons disease

PET may be ordered as a follow-up to a CT or MRI scan to give the physician a greater understanding of specific areas of the brain that may be involved with certain problems

4. NCS This test is used to diagnose nerve damage or destruction.

NCV is related to the diameter of the nerve and the degree of myelination of the nerve. Newborn infants have values that are approximately half that of adults, and adult values are normally reached by age 3 or 4.

The NCS is useful in detecting the functions of the peripheral nerves including both the type of dysfunction and the likely location of its cause. This can be used to help diagnose various diseases that impact the nerves. The test is indicated in Peripheral nerve tumors, Peripheral neuropathies Axonopathy Mononeuritis multiplex Common peroneal nerve dysfunction Wrist drop; Foot drop Traumatic nerve injuries, Nerve entrapments (such as carpal tunnel syndrome) Brachial plexopathy Diabetic neuropathy Demyelination Guillian barre syndrome Sensorimotor Polyneuropathy And various diseases of the spine which involve the nerves as they enter or leave the spinal cord.