In many if not most cases, neurologists can diagnose multiple sclerosis (MS) on the basis of symptoms, along with an MRI scan of the brain and spinal cord. But when results aren’t conclusive, they ...

Post-dural puncture headaches often develop within a few days of a lumbar puncture (spinal tap). They usually go away on their own within a week or two, but if they persist, a doctor might recommend ...

Lumbar puncture, a diagnostic procedure often undertaken in acute medical units, is a technical procedure that requires skill, knowledge and experience. Lumbar punctures used to be performed mostly by ...

Why do I need a lumbar puncture? A lumbar puncture can check for cancer cells or for infection in the CSF. Doctors remove some of the CSF to test for cancer cells. They use a needle to take a sample ...

A lumbar puncture is sometimes called a “spinal tap.” It’s a medical procedure that can involve collecting a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF is the fluid that surrounds your spinal cord and ...