Radionuclide cisternogram

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Lumbar puncture

Intrathecal scan; Spinal cord scan; CSF flow scan; Cisternogram

Risks associated with a lumbar puncture include pain at the injection site and infection.

The amount of radiation used during the nuclear scan is very small, and virtually all of the radiation is gone within a few days. There have been no documented cases of injury or damage caused by the radioisotope used with this scan. However, as with any radiation exposure, caution is advised if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

In extremely rare cases, a person will develop an allergic reaction to the radioisotope used during the scan. This may include a serious anaphylactic reaction.

This procedure requires multiple scans, and the entire test may take 48 - 72 hours. You must be able to lie still during the scan.

Review Date: 09/21/2005
Reviewed By: Jonathan Gross, M.D., Department of Radiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.