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Electroencephalography (EEG) records cerebral palsy. Encephalopathies can be caused by kidney, liver, or respiratory failure, or chemical imbalance in the blood (called metabolic encephalopathy), low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), or drug overdoses. Others may be due to infection and other causes of brain inflammation (encephalitis), or due to the effects of injured neurons (this case is very rare). Stupor and Coma Stupor is defined as reduced or slowed responsiveness, and coma is defined as unresponsiveness (not waking up, or if appearing awake, then not reacting to stimuli). Although EEGs may record the lack of electrical activity in some comatose patients, which can be used as evidence of brain death, in many other instances EEGs turn up treatable conditions like otherwise undetected seizures disorders or chemical imbalances. EEGs may also uncover signs of an otherwise unexpected good prognosis, like otherwise undetectable responses to stimuli, or evidence of normal sleep patterns. In the past, EEGs played a bigger roll than they do now in the diagnosis of brain injury due to strokes and in the diagnosis and identification of brain tumors. Computer-assisted techniques such as CT-scans (an X-ray image of the body, also called a CAT scan); MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging, which uses radio waves and magnetic fields to produce and image); and PET scans (positron emission tomography, which uses a radioactive tracer that is injected into the body to help form a picture), have taken over most of the tasks of diagnosing these conditions, since they tend to be more sensitive and specific in the diagnosis of strokes and tumors and are simpler to do and easier to interpret than EEGs. How Long Will It Take To Get Results? EEGs are read (analyzed and interpreted) by specially trained electroencephalographers, almost always neurologists. How long the analysis and interpretation takes depends on how long the EEG record itself is, the frequency and complexity of the potential abnormality being sought, and the availability of a competent interpreter. Since records can be transmitted now by telephone or Internet, even complex EEGs are now usually read and interpreted within a day or two, sometimes at sites far distant from where they're performed. Emergency EEGs done on coma patients are often simple to read, and may be available within an hour of the record's completion. Updated and reviewed by: Frederick Meier, MD
In the past, EEGs played a bigger roll than they do now in the diagnosis of brain injury due to strokes and in the diagnosis and identification of brain tumors. Computer-assisted techniques such as CT-scans (an X-ray image of the body, also called a CAT scan); MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging, which uses radio waves and magnetic fields to produce and image); and PET scans (positron emission tomography, which uses a radioactive tracer that is injected into the body to help form a picture), have taken over most of the tasks of diagnosing these conditions, since they tend to be more sensitive and specific in the diagnosis of strokes and tumors and are simpler to do and easier to interpret than EEGs.
EEGs are read (analyzed and interpreted) by specially trained electroencephalographers, almost always neurologists. How long the analysis and interpretation takes depends on how long the EEG record itself is, the frequency and complexity of the potential abnormality being sought, and the availability of a competent interpreter. Since records can be transmitted now by telephone or Internet, even complex EEGs are now usually read and interpreted within a day or two, sometimes at sites far distant from where they're performed. Emergency EEGs done on coma patients are often simple to read, and may be available within an hour of the record's completion.
Updated and reviewed by: Frederick Meier, MD
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.