Overview

After a seizure, your health care provider typically reviews your symptoms and medical history. Your provider may order several tests to determine the cause of your seizure. This helps evaluate how likely it is that you’ll have another seizure.

Tests may include:

  • Neurological exam. Your health care provider may test your behavior, motor abilities and mental function. This can let your provider know about the health of your brain and nervous system.
  • Blood tests. Your provider may take a blood sample. The test can check for signs of infections, genetic conditions, blood sugar levels or electrolyte imbalances.
  • Electroencephalogram (EEG). Flat metal discs called electrodes attached to your scalp record the electrical activity of your brain. This shows up as wavy lines on an EEG recording. The EEG may reveal a pattern that tells health care providers whether a seizure is likely to happen again. An EEG also can help rule out other conditions that look like epilepsy.
  • Computerized tomography (CT) scan. A CT scan uses X-rays to obtain cross-sectional images of your brain. CT scans can reveal what may be causing your seizures. The scans can uncover tumors, bleeding and cysts.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create a detailed view of your brain. Your health care provider may be able to detect what could be causing seizures.
  • Positron emission tomography (PET). PET scans use a small amount of low-dose radioactive material. The material is injected into a vein. This helps visualize active areas of the brain. PET scans can uncover areas of the brain where the seizure began.
  • Single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT). A SPECT test uses a small amount of low-dose radioactive tracer. The tracer is injected into a vein to create a detailed, 3D map of the blood flow in the brain during a seizure. A form of a SPECT test called subtraction ictal SPECT coregistered to magnetic resonance imaging (SISCOM) may provide even more-detailed results.
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