electrodiagnóstico

Electrodiagnóstico is a branch of medicine that uses electrical activity of the body to diagnose neurological and neuromuscular disorders. It involves the use of specialized equipment to record and interpret these electrical signals. The primary goal of electrodiagnostic testing is to assess the function of nerves, muscles, and the brain, helping to pinpoint the location and nature of a problem.

Common electrodiagnostic tests include electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS). EMG measures the electrical activity produced by muscles, both at rest and during contraction. NCS evaluates the speed and strength of electrical signals traveling along peripheral nerves. Another important test is electroencephalography (EEG), which records the electrical activity of the brain, often used to diagnose epilepsy and other brain disorders. Evoked potentials, such as visual evoked potentials (VEP), brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP), and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP), measure the electrical responses of the nervous system to specific sensory stimuli.

These tests are non-invasive or minimally invasive and are typically performed in an outpatient setting. They provide valuable objective data that complements clinical examination and imaging studies. Electrodiagnóstico plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and management of a wide range of conditions, including carpal tunnel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, radiculopathy, myasthenia gravis, and various forms of epilepsy. The interpretation of electrodiagnostic results requires specialized knowledge and experience by trained neurologists or other physicians.