A lumbar puncture is performed for several reasons:
- To diagnose or rule out infections such as meningitis and encephalitis. - To measure the pressure of the CSF, which can indicate conditions like hydrocephalus. - To detect subarachnoid hemorrhage or bleeding in the brain. - To diagnose multiple sclerosis (MS) and other demyelinating diseases. - To deliver medications directly into the CSF, such as chemotherapy or antibiotics.
