The essence of the study
The human brain plays a major role in the functioning of the entire nervous system. A slight malfunction in the functioning of this organ can lead to disturbances in the coordination of the human body. A thorough examination will help identify the causes of the disease.
Echoencephalography of the brain is a reliable and accessible method of research presented in medicine. The procedure is absolutely painless. It can be done at any age.
Not everyone has an idea about the features of this examination method and where it is carried out. Many people are interested in how this procedure is done and what are the indications for diagnostics.
Echo EG is practically no different from ultrasound (ultrasound). Echoencephalography of the brain or echoencephaloscopy (EchoES) is based on the reflection of ultrasonic waves from the tissues of human organs.
Sensors installed on the patient's head transmit waves to each other, which are reflected from the surface and internal structures of the brain. These waves are converted into an electrical signal, which is recorded by a specialist in the form of an image or diagram on the screen. This method gives an accurate picture of the condition and pathologies of the brain.
Electroencephalography allows you to learn about vascular diseases and the causes of improper cerebral circulation. The method helps to assess the lumen and tone of the veins.
A head echo is a non-invasive type of examination, so it is often used to quickly establish a diagnosis in an emergency. This examination should not be confused with the echocardiography procedure, which is used in heart studies.
Methods for diagnosing brain diseases
The quality of our life depends on many nuances of the state of the body. The most important of these is the functioning of our brain. Stress, depression, poor ecology are constant companions of almost every inhabitant of the Earth, so many diseases, including brain diseases, are much more common than a hundred years ago. In addition, diseases are “getting younger” and are observed in a huge number of adolescents and even children. Sometimes we no longer pay attention to the symptoms, get used to frequent headaches, ignore dizziness, try once again not to “listen” to our feelings, and mindlessly take pills. It is important not to numb the pain with medications, but to understand the cause by examining the brain for the presence of structural and functional disorders. Maria Yuryevna Alekseeva , a functional diagnostics doctor, a doctor of the highest category, told how to do this
If you have any complaints, you should immediately consult a doctor. It will help determine the necessary path of examination. But, there are a number of studies that can be done before the consultation to save time. I would like to remind you a little about such diagnostic techniques as EEG, REG and ECHO-EG.
All of them are screening tests, as they have a number of positive properties: painless, harmless, without age restrictions, low cost, quick, and informative. With the results of these studies, the specialist will have a more complete picture of what is happening in your body.
What is EEG?
Electroencephalography (EEG) is a method for studying the functioning of the brain, based on recording its electrical activity. Brain activity can be normal and pathological. So, when recording an EEG, we provide a description of normal brain activity taking into account age-related assessment criteria, and also indicate the presence or absence of pathological activity, which includes epileptic activity.
What are the indications for an electroencephalogram?
Mainly it is the diagnosis of epilepsy.
It can also be any complaints about the head (headaches, dizziness, tinnitus, loss of consciousness, panic attacks), seizures, any sleep disorders, a constant feeling of fatigue.
EEG is prescribed for various brain diseases: traumatic brain injuries, meningitis, encephalitis, strokes, brain tumors, autism, speech disorders, delayed psychomotor development, tics, neuroses, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, vegetative-vascular dystonia.
In addition, EEG allows you to observe the dynamics of the disease, adjust treatment methods and evaluate the effect of drugs. It is also included in the screening program when passing a medical examination.
Is EEG performed on children?
This examination is very common in childhood, since the onset of many diseases of the nervous system occurs in children. Even for an infant, this technique is completely safe and does not harm health. Thanks to a timely EEG, it is often possible to defeat a serious illness at the earliest stages of its development.
How is the procedure performed?
No special preparation is needed, the procedure will not take much time and will not cause any discomfort. A special cap is placed on the head, to which electrodes are attached. Before applying them, the electrodes are moistened with a special gel so that the contact with the scalp is more dense.
The procedure lasts approximately 15-20 minutes. When recording an EEG, functional tests are usually carried out, “provocations” of hidden pathological conditions, convulsive attacks: photostimulation (light flashes at different frequencies), hyperventilation (deep breathing). These are different types of stress for the brain, which help to identify violations of its functioning.
What is REG? What is the essence of the method?
Rheoencephalography is a study of cerebral circulation, namely the functional state of blood vessels, their walls (tone), how they (quickly or not) fill with blood, venous outflow. The reaction of blood vessels to turning and tilting the head and holding the breath is also assessed. The procedure is based on recording the electrical resistance of brain tissue.
What are the indications for the procedure?
This study has wide application in childhood. After all, vascular disorders, unfortunately, are often found in modern children.
Rheoencephalography is advisable to use in the diagnosis of cerebrovascular pathology of a functional nature (vegetative-vascular dystonia, migraine), in atherosclerosis, acute and chronic cerebrovascular disorders, as well as in assessing the effectiveness of certain medications and non-drug treatment methods. REG studies are highly informative in identifying the effect on cerebral vessels in pathologies of the cervical spine (osteochondrosis, spondylitis, consequences of injury, etc.).
REG can be prescribed both for diagnostic purposes and routinely, since it is absolutely safe. This is especially true for mature and elderly patients, since over time the characteristics of blood vessels only worsen, and any pathology is best recognized in advance.
How is the examination carried out?
REG does not require special training. In general, the procedure is similar to an EEG: electrodes are installed on the patient’s head and connected to a machine that records the results. The whole procedure lasts 5-10 minutes.
What are the advantages of REG?
There is an opinion that REG research has been used for quite a long time and can be considered obsolete, especially with the advent of ultrasound and tomographic techniques. However, the simple conditions for the procedure and its painlessness for the patient are the main advantages of REG. At the same time, the device takes readings about the work of arteries and veins separately, which simplifies diagnosis at any stage of the disease.
Magnetic resonance and computed tomography, as well as Doppler ultrasound, are more detailed, but not as accessible to the public. In addition, there are categories of patients who need to undergo such research regularly, for example, during the postoperative period.
REG in childhood is especially relevant, since sitting in a rubber cap for 5 minutes in the presence of parents is much easier for a child than being alone inside a huge humming device (tomograph). Therefore, doctors do not stop turning to rheoencephalography.
What is ECHO-EG of the brain?
Echo-EG of the brain (ECHO-ES or Echoencephalography) is a method of one-dimensional ultrasound diagnosis of the brain followed by computer processing.
ECHO-EG reveals displacement of the midline structures of the brain, which occurs due to head injuries or neoplasms. The midline structures include the ventricles of the brain (these are natural cavities between the hemispheres). In case of pathological processes on the right or left, they shift to the healthy side.
This method also helps in diagnosing increased intracranial pressure.
In what cases should an ECHO-EG be done?
Mainly traumatic brain injuries.
Also, ECHO-EG is indicated:
- for severe regular headaches,
- general weakness, the causes of which are not clear;
- vegetative-vascular dystonia;
- fainting.
In addition, echoencephalography allows you to see indirect signs of increased intracranial pressure.
How is the procedure performed?
No special preparation is required. The doctor places small ultrasound sensors on the patient’s head and periodically moves them during the examination. In this case, the patient does not experience any discomfort. It is done very quickly (5-10 minutes), the result is given immediately.
What are the advantages of ECHO-EG?
Echoencephalography is a simple, safe and harmless diagnostic method that has no contraindications or age restrictions. It is especially relevant in patients with contraindications to MRI (for example, an installed pacemaker, or built-in metal structures). Or in early childhood with head injuries, which happen quite often. In such cases, global examinations such as MRI are not always justified, and ECHO-encephalography comes to the rescue.
What are the features of conducting EEG, REG and ECHO-EG at the Center for New Medical Technologies?
To conduct these studies, our Center uses the latest equipment, and modern computer programs are used for analysis. Patients are received by highly qualified specialists by appointment, without queues. We have extensive experience working with children of different ages (including newborns), and with various pathologies. Research results are prepared quickly.
In conclusion, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that, whatever the reason why you or your child needs an EEG, REG or ECHO-EG, after the examination you must consult a neurologist to interpret the results and treatment. Be healthy!
In what cases is such an examination prescribed?
Symptoms for which a doctor may prescribe an Echo EG:
- periodic headache;
- feeling of dizziness, poor spatial orientation;
- ringing in the ears;
- head injuries accompanied by nausea or vomiting.
In addition, echoencephalography is prescribed to identify the causes of other pathologies:
- pain in the cervical region;
- vegetative-vascular dystonia;
- impaired blood circulation;
- vertebrobasilar arterial system syndrome;
- ischemic disease;
- brain concussion;
- vascular encephalopathy of the head;
- stroke.
An electroencephalogram shows the main parameters of cerebral functions. Using a head echo, a number of diseases can be detected. These include: various tumors, inflammatory processes, cerebral blood flow disorders, intracranial pressure, hydrocephalic syndrome, adenoma of brain areas.
The use of echoencephalography in childhood
The procedure is completely painless. This is the main advantage of EchoEG. The research process is not accompanied by unpleasant sensations or discomfort. This makes this type of examination convenient for diagnosing various pathologies in a child.
Echoencephalography is used in children with the following disorders:
- to assess the degree of hydrocephalus of the brain;
- with significant sleep disorders;
- with nervous tics;
- with delays in speech and physical development;
- with muscle hypertonicity;
- with urinary incontinence;
- for bruises and concussions.
In children under one and a half years old, it is possible to make a more accurate and complete diagnosis of all parts of the brain, since before this age the fontanel has not yet completely healed.
Also, to identify malfunctions in the brain in children, the EEG (encephalogram) method is used. This study captures biological neural currents and helps identify the causes of epilepsy in brain activity.
Decoding the research results
The results of interpretation of Echo EG of the brain in adults and children do not differ. The procedure is performed by a sonologist.
Normally, the examination consists of three bursts, which are called complexes. The initial burst is a signal generated by ultrasound. Ultrasound is reflected from the bone tissue of the skull, skin and brain tissue. The median burst (M-echo) is a complex that is obtained when ultrasound comes into contact with the structures of brain tissue located between the two hemispheres.
The final burst is a signal that comes from the tissues of the cranial bones and the dura mater of the brain on the other side of the probe. The connection between these three complexes is projected onto the monitor screen and represents a graph with axes. The specialist prints the results on paper and begins decoding.
Preparation for the procedure and its implementation
One- and two-dimensional echoencephalography does not require the patient to prepare independently. All he needs to do is visit the diagnostic room at the appointed time. Before starting the examination, the diagnostician will ask him to remove from his head any accessories that may interfere.
During the process, the doctor installs an ultrasound sensor in certain areas of the head. To ensure high-quality contact, a contact gel is first applied to them. This prevents air from entering and causing interference. The sensor is placed:
- above the ear canals;
- near the outer edges of the eyebrow arches (at the temples);
- behind the ears at a distance of four to five centimeters.
By sending ultrasound signals, the sensor catches them in reflected form and transmits them to the device, which displays them on the monitor in the form of a graphic image similar to the teeth of an electrocardiogram.
When carrying out the procedure in a two-dimensional format, the sensor is not rearranged sequentially - it is moved along the surface of the head, providing an image of the slice in a horizontal plane along the line of its movement. An image of the formations located at this level is displayed on the screen. The duration of the procedure is no more than 15 minutes.
Where can I make an Echo Head?
This type of disease testing is offered by specialized clinics in many Russian cities. The study is prescribed by a neurologist.
Doctors have been using echo EG for many years. This is the only method of brain research that has no contraindications. It allows you to identify pathologies when magnetic resonance or computed tomography are unavailable for one reason or another. The procedure does not cause discomfort and there are no side effects after it. The only drawback of this diagnostic method is that it does not detect small pathologies, unlike CT or MRI, which help diagnose the disease in the early stages.
Bottom line
Due to its high availability compared to computed tomography and other neuroradiological methods, echoencephalography, which is a safe ultrasound examination, is still often used for primary diagnosis in cases of displacement of brain structures and monitoring the course of various pathological cerebral processes. The correctness of the medical report largely depends on the knowledge and experience of the specialist. Analyzing the data obtained using EG, he additionally relies on the results of tests and other studies or prescribes them to clarify the diagnosis.
