What type of tests might the neurosurgeon order?
A. There are a number of imaging tests that might be ordered to determine what, if any, damage has occurred, how it was caused and where it is located. They include: 1) Computerized Tomography (CT) scans take cross-sectional x-ray images of selected parts of the body. The picture it records can be used to help determine is a stroke is ischemic or hemorrhagic in nature, as well as pinpoint its location. 2) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) uses magnetic fields and radio-frequency pulses to take images of internal body parts and provide a clear picture of bleeding, blockages and blood vessel malformations. 3) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans create computer-generated x-ray images of the brain by means of radioactive isotopes injected into the body. PET scans show how the brain is functioning and help determine whether blood vessels are blocked or if certain areas of the brain are damaged.
