What is a cisternogram and what is it used for?
Your doctor has recommended you for a cisternogram. This test is used to look for problems with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow. CSF flows through the subarachnoid space that surrounds your brain and spinal cord. Cisternograms may be used to diagnose a CSF leak or identify blockages in the CSF pathway.
What happens during a cisternogram?
The cisternogram test shows the progressive flow of spinal fluid from the lower back into the brain. The spinal fluid is then absorbed by the brain. The rate of flow and absorption of spinal fluid can be determined by this exam.
What radiopharmaceutical is used for cisternogram?
The patient’s spinal fluid is injected with a radiopharmaceutical tracer, such as DTPA tagged with indium 111, through a lumbar puncture (spinal tap)….
| Radionuclide cisternogram | |
|---|---|
| Purpose | determine if there is abnormal CSF flow within the brain |
What is a NM cisternogram?
Cisternogram – Nuclear Medicine. A cisternogram uses a radioactive substance (or tracer) to demonstrate cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) dynamics. Indications for a cisternogram might be to determine if a patient may have a form of non-communicating hydrocephalus or to localize the presence of a CSF leak.
Is a Cisternogram safe?
What are the risks of a cisternogram? The site of your lumbar puncture could become red, swollen, painful, or infected. Sometimes a lumbar puncture causes a headache. There may be bleeding into the spinal canal.
Who performs a Cisternogram?
A radiologist will interpret the images, write a report, and deliver the results to your doctor via the internal computer system. This process usually takes less than 24 hours.
How long is a Cisternogram?
This is a tomographic set of images combined with a non diagnostic CT for attenuation correction and takes about 25 minutes.
Can you eat before a Cisternogram?
How do I prepare for a cisternogram? You do not have to do anything to prepare for the scan. You may eat, drink fluids, and take any medicines that you take regularly.
What is the half life of indium 111?
2.8 days
Indium In 111 decays by electron capture with a physical half-life of 67.2 hours (2.8 days). The energies of the photons that are useful for detection and imaging studies are listed in Table 1.
How much does a Cisternogram cost?
On MDsave, the cost of a Cisternogram for Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) ranges from $561 to $1,107.
Are lumbar punctures safe?
A lumbar puncture is safe for most people. Some people get a severe headache known as a “spinal headache” caused by CSF leakage. Rare complications include back or leg pain, accidental puncture of the spinal cord, bleeding in the spinal canal, and brain herniation caused by a sudden decrease of CSF pressure.
