Transillumination

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Infant brain test

Transillumination is the shining of a light through a body cavity or organ.

The room lights are dimmed or turned off so that the appropriate part of the body may be seen more easily. A bright light is then pointed at a location on the body, typically the head, scrotum, chest of a premature or newborn infant, or breast of an adult female.

Transillumination is also sometimes used to find blood vessels.

No preparation is necessary for this test.

There is no discomfort associated with this test.

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This test is most commonly performed on newborns or infants with hydrocephalus, or males suspected of having a hydrocele. The test may also be performed on breast tissue to detect lesions or cysts. In newborns, a bright halogen light may be used to transilluminate the chest cavity if it is suspected they have a pneumothorax.

Transillumination through the chest is only possible on small newborns. Diagnosis of pneumothorax is always confirmed by chest x-ray. In general, transillumination is not a particularly good test for any of these disorders, and further tests, such as an x-ray or ultrasound, are needed to confirm the diagnosis.

Review Date: 05/10/2006
Reviewed By: Daniel Rauch, MD, FAAP, Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.