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Transillumination |
| Definition: |
| The shining of a light through a body cavity or organ. |
| How the test is performed: |
| The room lights are dimmed or turned off so that the appropriate part may be seen more easily. A bright light is then pointed at a cavity or organ, typically the head, scrotum, or chest in the premature or newborn infant or the breast in an adult female.
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| How to prepare for the test: |
| No preparation is necessary for this test. |
| How the test will feel: |
| There is no discomfort associated with this test. |
| Why the test is performed: |
| 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 and/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.
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| Normal Values: |
| Normal findings depend on the area being evaluated, and the normal tissue of that region. |
| What abnormal results mean: |
Areas filled with air or fluid that is not native to that location have increased light transmission and transilluminate when they should not. For example, in a darkened room, a newborn infant's head can be seen to light up brightly when transilluminated if there is excess fluid present (suggesting hydrocephalus).
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| What the risks are: |
| There are no risks associated with this test. |
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