Doctor Medicine over 6 years ago

Transillumination of a newborn's head!

Transillumination of a newborn's head! This case is an example of a rare condition called Hydranencephaly, characterised by destruction of the cerebral hemispheres which are transformed into a membranous sac containing cerebrospinal fluid and the remnants of cortex and white matter. Transillumination is the shining of a light through a body area or organ to check for abnormalities. The room lights are dimmed or turned off so that the area of the body may be seen more easily. A bright light is then pointed at that area. This test may be done along with other tests to diagnose hydrocephalus in newborns or infants, hydrocele in males breast lesions or cysts in females, and even sinusitis! In general, transillumination is not an accurate enough test to rely on. Further tests, such as an x-ray, CT, or ultrasound, are needed to confirm the diagnosis.