How is cerebellar degeneration diagnosed?

How is cerebellar degeneration diagnosed?

If your healthcare provider suspects you have cerebellar degeneration, they’ll perform a careful evaluation of your symptoms. They’ll also review your personal and family medical history. Be sure to explain how and to what extent your symptoms are interfering with your daily life.

To confirm a diagnosis, your provider will likely suggest an imaging exam. You might have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a CT (computed tomography) scan. These exams create highly detailed pictures of your brain and its tissues. If you have cerebellar degeneration, an imaging exam may show that your cerebellum has grown smaller or deteriorated. These tests can also detect other brain conditions, such as a brain tumor or evidence of stroke.

Your healthcare provider may test your cerebrospinal fluid (the liquid around your brain and spinal cord). They’ll take a sample with a needle during a spinal tap (lumbar puncture). Substances in the fluid may indicate an autoimmune disorder such as paraneoplastic syndromes.

In some cases, a blood test can detect certain antibodies. These are proteins your immune system produces to fight illnesses. People with cancer and paraneoplastic syndromes may have high levels of antibodies in their blood.

If your healthcare provider thinks you have hereditary cerebellar degeneration, they may do genetic testing.