Transillumination

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Infant brain test

Overview

Risks

Results

Transillumination

Definition:

Transillumination is 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 of a premature or newborn infant; the breast of an adult female; or the scrotum of an adult male.

How to prepare for the test:

text continues below

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.