Brain scan

Brain scanning is used to determine the presence, location, and course of neurologic disease. Tumors, cerebral infarcts, abscesses, and trauma present as areas of increased isotope uptake on the scan. In reaching a diagnosis, results of physical examination and laboratory studies should be evaluated in conjunction with the scintigraphic findings. While the scan helps detect focal neurologic disease, accurate differential diagnosis usually requires further neuroradiologic studies. (U.S.)