Cisternogram

You will be asked to arrive at the Outpatient Services department at a specified time. If your procedure is being done to detect a cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) leak, you may be asked to have small pieces of cotton placed inside your nasal passages by a doctor that specializes in ear, nose and throat conditions. Sometimes these pledgets may be placed by your doctor in his or her office prior to coming to the hospital. The pledgets (usually three in each nostril) have a small string attached that will protrude from your nose and are taped to your cheek.

Some medications may increase the risk of bleeding after your procedure. Please check with your doctor about possibly holding medications such as aspirin, Coumadin (warfarin), Ticlid, Pletal, Aggrenox, Plavix and NSAIDs, such as naproxen and ibuprofen, before your procedure. Please hold these medications as directed. You may resume your medications the day after your procedure.

During the exam, a radiologist will use X-ray guidance to place a needle into the area that surrounds your spine. The area chosen will be injected with a numbing medication. Then the radiologist injects the radioactive tracer. The tracer will take some time to move through the intrathecal space, so you will be taken back to the Outpatient Services (OPS) department. There you will rest, lying down for about four hours. You will then be taken to the nuclear medicine department where a camera will be used to detect abnormalities. This scan takes about 15 minutes. You will be scheduled for serial scans starting about 24 hours, 48 hours and possibly 72 hours after your initial scan. Your pledgets will be removed after the 24 hour scan. 

Prior to discharge from OPS, you will receive instructions regarding your general care. Your cisternogram pictures will be examined by a radiologist and your physician will receive a report of the findings and discuss the result with you.

Providing safe, quality patient care is our highest priority. To help ensure quality and safety, we ask that you do not bring young children with you to your appointments, as children are not allowed to accompany you during Imaging procedures. Staff is unable to monitor your child in your absence.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your doctor or contact Imaging Services at (320) 255-5619.

Your appointment is on:

Date: ________________ Time: ________________ at the following location:

____ St. Cloud Hospital - please check in at Door A

____ CentraCare Health Plaza - please check in at Woodlands Entrance