Neurodiagnostic Studies in Children

A detailed medical history and a careful physical examination will be able to help the clinician diagnose many neurological disorders affecting children. However, there are situations in which investigations including laboratory and imaging studies are essential to establish a specific diagnosis. This allows appropriate therapy to be promptly instituted. These neurodiagnostic studies include cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) analysis, antibody tests in the serum and CSF, ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), electro-encephalogram (EEG), evoked potentials (EPs), nerve conduction studies (NCSs), and electro-myography (EMG). A large number of newer neurodiagnostic studies are also available, which need to be critically tested and investigated so that a proper diagnosis can be made promptly and cost-effectively. Therefore, it is extremely important for a clinician to be familiar with the indications, contraindications, and interpretations of the study(-ies) performed in children suffering from any neurological symptoms/disorders.