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Frotis de LCR - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Frotis del líquido espinal; Frotis del líquido cefalorraquídeo

Definición:

Es un examen microscópico del líquido normalmente transparente que circula en el espacio que rodea la médula espinal y el cerebro. Este líquido protege a la médula espinal y al cerebro de una lesión.

Forma en que se realiza el examen:

Se necesita una muestra de líquido cefalorraquídeo (LCR), la cual generalmente se obtiene a través de una punción lumbar. Para obtener información sobre la forma como se lleva a cabo este procedimiento, ver el artículo punción raquídea.

La muestra se envía a un laboratorio, donde se esparce una cantidad diminuta sobre un portaobjetos de vidrio. Un miembro del equipo del laboratorio examina la muestra bajo el microscopio. El frotis muestra el color del líquido, al igual que el número y forma de las células presentes en éste. Igualmente, se pueden hacer otros exámenes, como una tinción de Gram, para verificar si hay bacterias.

Preparación para el examen:

Para obtener información sobre la forma de prepararse para obtener la muestra de LCR, ver el artículo punción raquídea.

Lo que se siente durante el examen:

El examen del laboratorio es indoloro y no involucra al paciente.

Para obtener información sobre lo que uno siente cuando le extraen una muestra de LCR, ver el artículo punción raquídea.

Razones por las que se realiza el examen:

El examen se hace para verificar si hay signos de infección en una muestra de LCR.

  • Reviewed last on: 8/14/2010
  • David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Griggs RC, Jozefowicz RF, Aminoff MJ. Approach to the patient with neurologic disease. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 418.

Swartz MN. Meningitis: bacterial, viral, and other. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 437.

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