What Does These EEG Scans Indicate?

Posted on Sat, 5 Apr 2014

Question: Please explain this ASAP: 16 channel EEG recurring with additional channel for EKG monitoring. Bipolar montages utilized. During the initial portion of the record, the patient is awake and there is much movement and myogenic artifact. Readable portions of the record reveal 4-5 cycle per second posterior and central rhythm with lower voltage frontal mixed theta and alpha activity. The patient remains awake or drowsy. No epileptiform activity is noted. The patient is a 21 month old male

Answered by Dr. Sweta Singla (31 hours later)

Brief Answer: EEG suggests cerebral dysfunction Detailed Answer: The description given above suggests that the cerebral activity is slow for an awake patient. And background slowing suggests either there is brain dysfunction or encephalopathy.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E

Follow up: Dr. Sweta Singla (2 hours later)

So what does cerebral activity being slow mean? Also what is cerebral dysfunction? Please keep in mind that this is a 21 month old child.

Answered by Dr. Sweta Singla (35 minutes later)

Brief Answer: It means that brain is not acting properly.. Detailed Answer: Hi again Cerebral activity being slow means brain is not acting properly. Cerebral dysfunction means that the brain is affected either because of primary brain pathology or secondary to some dysfunction in any other organ of the body. EEG will not tell what is the pathology only that the brain is not acting properly.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj