Brain Injury Diagnostic Test Descriptions

A brain injury patient will often receive numerous diagnostic test to help determine the level of damage that has occurred.  Below the most common diagnostic tests are identified and explained to help make the diagnostic period easier to understand.

Angiogram - This test looks at the blood vessels in the brain.

CT/CAT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography - The CT scan is typically the first diagnostic test a brain injury patient will receive and is, by definition, a specific type of x-ray, designed to measure the brain's density, that generates an image of the brain.

X-Ray - The X-Ray is used to determine if bones, particularly the skull, are broken or fractured.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - The MRI produces a detailed image of the brain and other internal organs using radio waves and a strong magnetic field.

Electrocardiogram (EKG) - The EKG is used to look at the heart's function and electrical activity.

Neuroimaging - These tests, including the SPECT (single photon emission computerized tomography), the PET (position emission tomography), and the MRI, visually show the brain's activity during various tasks.

Electroencephalogram (EEG) - Used to detect the presence of seizures or decreased brain activity, the EEG measures the brain's electrical activity that is produced by nerve cell activity.