This visit may include a physical check-up, imaging exam s , and blood tests. During your follow-up visit, tell your doctor if you have noticed any side effects or changes. Doctors take special care during x-ray exams to use the lowest radiation dose possible while producing the best images for evaluation. National and international radiology protection organizations continually review and update the technique standards radiology professionals use.
Modern x-ray systems minimize stray scatter radiation by using controlled x-ray beams and dose control methods. This ensures that the areas of your body not being imaged receive minimal radiation exposure. It may be difficult to obtain a cerebrospinal fluid sample through lumbar puncture on patients with a condition called spinal stenosis and in individuals who are severely dehydrated.
Please type your comment or suggestion into the text box below. Note: we are unable to answer specific questions or offer individual medical advice or opinions. Some imaging tests and treatments have special pediatric considerations. The teddy bear denotes child-specific content. Please contact your physician with specific medical questions or for a referral to a radiologist or other physician.
To locate a medical imaging or radiation oncology provider in your community, you can search the ACR-accredited facilities database. This website does not provide cost information. The costs for specific medical imaging tests, treatments and procedures may vary by geographic region. Web page review process: This Web page is reviewed regularly by a physician with expertise in the medical area presented and is further reviewed by committees from the Radiological Society of North America RSNA and the American College of Radiology ACR , comprising physicians with expertise in several radiologic areas.
Outside links: For the convenience of our users, RadiologyInfo. Toggle navigation. What is a lumbar puncture? What are some common uses of the procedure? How should I prepare?
What does the equipment look like? How does the procedure work? How is the procedure performed? What will I experience during the procedure? Who interprets the results and how do I get them? What are the benefits vs.
What are the limitations of lumbar puncture? A lumbar puncture is typically performed to: collect a sample of cerebrospinal fluid to be analyzed in a laboratory measure the pressure of fluid in the spinal canal remove some cerebrospinal fluid to decrease pressure in the spinal canal inject chemotherapy drugs, contrast material, or other medications into the cerebrospinal fluid. The lumbar puncture procedure helps physicians diagnose: bacterial, fungal and viral infections, including meningitis , encephalitis and syphilis bleeding around the brain subarachnoid hemorrhage cancers involving the brain and spinal cord inflammatory conditions of the nervous system, including Guillain-Barre syndrome and multiple sclerosis.
Tell your doctor about recent illnesses or other medical conditions. Plan to have someone drive you home after your procedure. The nurse will give you a gown to wear during the procedure. The length and diameter of the thin, hollow needle used in this procedure varies.
Your doctor will likely do this exam on an outpatient basis. You will be positioned lying face down on your stomach on the examining table. Depending on the reason for your lumbar puncture: a small amount of fluid may be withdrawn through the needle to be tested in a laboratory cerebrospinal fluid may be removed to relieve pressure in the spinal canal chemotherapy or other medication may be injected into the spinal canal as prescribed by your physician The needle is then removed.
The doctor or nurse will remove your IV line before you go home. You may be asked to lie on your back or side for a few hours following the procedure. This procedure is usually completed within 45 minutes.
You should plan to lay on your back and rest the day following your procedure. Your referring physician will share the results with you. Your interventional radiologist may recommend a follow-up visit. Benefits No radiation stays in your body after an x-ray exam. Usually, you lie on your side with your knees drawn up to your chest, or you sit and lean forward on a stable surface. These positions flex your back, widening the spaces between your vertebrae and making it easier for your doctor to insert the needle.
The procedure usually lasts about 45 minutes. Your doctor or nurse may suggest lying down after the procedure. Sometimes, an ultrasound may be used as a guide during the procedure on infants and young children. The ultrasound can help prevent inserting the needle too far. The spinal fluid samples are sent to a laboratory for analysis. Lab technicians check for a number of things when examining spinal fluid, including:. Lab results are combined with information obtained during the test, such as spinal fluid pressure, to help establish a possible diagnosis.
Your health care professional generally gives you the results within a few days, but it could take longer. Ask when you can expect to receive the results of your test. Write down questions that you want to ask your doctor or nurse. Don't hesitate to ask other questions that may come up during your visit. Questions you may want to ask include:. Explore Mayo Clinic studies of tests and procedures to help prevent, detect, treat or manage conditions.
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Spinal tap lumbar puncture Open pop-up dialog box Close.
Spinal tap lumbar puncture During a spinal tap lumbar puncture procedure, you typically lie on your side with your knees drawn up to your chest. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Some parents choose to be in the room with their child during the spinal tap, while others are more comfortable in a waiting area.
You can ask the doctor if it is OK for you to stay. The spinal cord extends from the lower part of the brain down to the upper lumbar area. A spinal tap is done in the lower lumbar area, below the point where the spinal cord ends. So, the risk of harming the spinal cord is avoided. A spinal tap is not surgery. No stitches or long recovery time are needed. Someone getting a spinal tap might be awake, or may get medicine to help them relax or sleep during the test. The medicine can be given by mouth, into the nose, or through an IV.
Patients are positioned with their back curved so the spaces between the vertebrae are as wide as possible. This makes it easier for the doctor to insert the needle. Older children may be asked to either sit on an exam table while leaning over with their head on a pillow or lie on their side. Infants and younger children are placed on their sides with their knees near their chin.
They will be held in this position during the test. Then, the doctor cleans the area where the spinal needle will go in, and might put a cream on the skin before using a tiny needle to numb the area. The cream eases the discomfort of the needle, although the injection may still burn a little. The spinal needle used for the "tap" is thin with a hollow core. Inside the core is a "stylet," another type of thin needle that acts kind of like a plug. When the patient is in position, the doctor carefully inserts the spinal needle between two vertebrae.
When the needle reaches an area called the spinal canal, the doctor slowly pulls out the stylet, which lets the cerebrospinal fluid drip into the collection tubes. This takes only a few minutes. Then, the doctor puts the stylet back into the needle, withdraws the needle, and puts a bandage on the site. The sample goes to a lab for testing. If you were not in the room with your child during the test, you can come in after the sample is collected.
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