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Treatment

Pediatric Lumbar Puncture

lumbar puncture diagram

During a lumbar puncture, your child's doctor on the Interventional Radiology team at Children's National Hospital will insert a needle into the lower spine:

  • To obtain cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid that circulates around the brain and spinal cord) to look for infection or cancer cells, or
  • To administer a chemotherapy agent for cancer patients, or
  • To monitor and relieve cerebrospinal fluid pressure for patients with pseudotumor

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a lumbar puncture in children performed?

Will my child be awake for the lumbar puncture procedure?

Will my child be in any pain after the lumbar puncture?

What are the risks of a lumbar puncture in children?

What should I expect after the lumbar puncture procedure for my child is complete?

When can my child bathe after a lumbar puncture?

Are there any activity restrictions after a lumbar puncture in children?

How is a lumbar puncture in children performed?

Will my child be awake for the lumbar puncture procedure?

Will my child be in any pain after the lumbar puncture?

What are the risks of a lumbar puncture in children?

What should I expect after the lumbar puncture procedure for my child is complete?

When can my child bathe after a lumbar puncture?

Are there any activity restrictions after a lumbar puncture in children?

doctor examines xray results with little girl

Interventional Radiology at Children's National Hospital

Our pediatric interventional radiologists perform a full range of minimally invasive, image-guided procedures to both diagnose and treat disease in infants, children and adolescents. Discover more about the treatment we offer.

doctor examines xray results with little girl
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PATIENT STORY

Molly's Story

    Departments that Offer Lumbar Puncture

    Nurse giving girl a stuffed animal in MRI imaging room

    Interventional Radiology

    Children's National interventional radiologists perform a full range of minimally invasive, image-guided procedures to both diagnose and treat disease in infants, children, and adolescents.