To diagnose brain tumor, your doctor will ask about your symptoms, examine you and may carry out tests to assess muscle and brain function e. g. memory, vision, muscle strength and co-ordination tests. You may be referred to a neurologist who may then refer you to a neurosurgeon (who operates on the brain and spinal cord) or an oncologist (specialist in cancer). Additional tests: a CT scan, an MRI, an EEG and a lumbar puncture, where a sample of cerebrospinal fluid is taken from the lower back. Surgery is usually necessary to diagnose a brain tumor as a biopsy (a small sample of tissue for testing) is required to find out exactly what type of tumor you have. The biopsy is usually performed under general anaesthesia.
Attribution: BUPA