Understanding and Diagnosing Neurological Disorders

The nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord, and various nerves scattered through the body. They are responsible for controlling all the working of the body including reception of sensory or bodily information, transporting this to the brain or spinal cord, and then conveying neural impulses from the brain or spinal cord to various body parts to control their actions.  When a neurological disorder occurs, it can cause trouble in breathing, moving, speaking, swallowing, remembering, learning and so on.

The main neurological disorders include genetic diseases such as muscular dystrophy, developmental disorders such as spina bifida, degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, injuries to the brain or spinal cord, seizure disorders like epilepsy, diseases of the blood vessels such as stroke, brain tumours or cancer, and infections such as meningitis. 

Diagnosis of the neurological disorder, in the best neuro hospital in India is based on the results of a neurological exam, physical exam, the history of the patient, x-rays of the chest and skull and so on. Then specific diagnostic tests may be used to understand the nature of the suspected disorder or injury to the nervous system.

Some of the common tests, although not all, can be summarised in the following list:

•Angiography: A cerebral angiogram is used to detect the extent of narrowing or obstruction of an artery or blood vessel in the brain, head or neck and is helpful in diagnosing a stroke.

•Biopsy: This is used in case of neuromuscular disorders, and involves the removal and examination of a small piece of tissue from the body, surgically or through a needle. A brain biopsy may be needed in case of suspicion of a brain tumour.

•Brain scans: These are imaging techniques that are used to diagnose haemorrhage in the brain, tumours or blood vessel disorders. The types of brain scans include CT Scan or computed tomography, MRI or Magnetic resonance imaging and PET scan or Positron emission tomography.

•Cerebrospinal fluid analysis: This is done by removing the fluid and examining it to diagnose infection, multiple sclerosis and other conditions.

•Electroencephalography: EEG can diagnose seizure disorders, tumours, damage by injury, inflammation and many other disorders by monitoring brain activity from the skull.

•Electronystagmography: ENG refers to a group of tests that are used to diagnose dizziness, balance problems, and involuntary eye movement using small electrodes taped around the eyes to record eye movement.

•Evoked potentials: Evoked potentials measure the electrical signals sent to the brain which are generated through sensory stimuli and help assess sensory nerve problems and confirm certain conditions such as multiple sclerosis, brain tumour etc.

•Myelography: This involves injection of a contrast dye into the spinal canal to enable x-ray imaging and can diagnose injury, fractures, tumours and so on.

If you feel that you require a more in-depth and accurate diagnosis, you can refer to the best neuro-specialists in Hyderabad and other cities.

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