Electrodiagnostic tests
Electroencephalography (EEG)
A technique that records the electrical activity of the brain via electrodes
attached to the scalp. Used in the diagnosis of epilepsy, coma and
certain forms of encephalitis.
Evoked potentials (EP)
A technique that studies nerve conduction of specific sensory pathways
within the brain by measuring the time taken for the brain to respond to
a stimulus. The stimulus may either be visual (e.g. flashed light, which
measures conduction in the occipital pathways), auditory (e.g. click,
which measures conduction in the auditory pathways) or somatosensory
(e.g. electrical stimulation of a peripheral nerve, which measures
conduction in the parietal cortex).
Used for detecting multi- ple sclerosis, brainstem and cerebellopontine
angle lesions(e.g. acoustic neuroma), various cerebral metabolic
disorders in infants and children as well as lesions in the sensory
pathways (e.g. brachial plexus injury and spinal cord tumour).
Nerve conduction studies
Measures conduction along a sensory or motor peripheral nerve
following stimulation of that nerve from two different sites.
Useful in the diagnosis of nerve entrapments (e.g. carpal tunnel
syndrome), peripheral neuropathies, motor and sensory nerve damage
and multifocal motor neuropathy.
Electroencephalography (EEG)
A technique that records the electrical activity of the brain via electrodes
attached to the scalp. Used in the diagnosis of epilepsy, coma and
certain forms of encephalitis.
Evoked potentials (EP)
A technique that studies nerve conduction of specific sensory pathways
within the brain by measuring the time taken for the brain to respond to
a stimulus. The stimulus may either be visual (e.g. flashed light, which
measures conduction in the occipital pathways), auditory (e.g. click,
which measures conduction in the auditory pathways) or somatosensory
(e.g. electrical stimulation of a peripheral nerve, which measures
conduction in the parietal cortex).
Used for detecting multi- ple sclerosis, brainstem and cerebellopontine
angle lesions(e.g. acoustic neuroma), various cerebral metabolic
disorders in infants and children as well as lesions in the sensory
pathways (e.g. brachial plexus injury and spinal cord tumour).
Nerve conduction studies
Measures conduction along a sensory or motor peripheral nerve
following stimulation of that nerve from two different sites.
Useful in the diagnosis of nerve entrapments (e.g. carpal tunnel
syndrome), peripheral neuropathies, motor and sensory nerve damage
and multifocal motor neuropathy.
