Lumbar Puncture

Lumbar puncture (or LP) is a medical procedure that involves inserting a needle into the lower back to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the spinal canal. This technique is used to study the CSF in order to diagnose various problems ranging from intracranial pressure conditions to infections of the central nervous system. It can also be used as a treatment for some conditions by injecting medications into the CSF such as chemotherapy drugs for cancers that affect the brain or spinal cord. As such, it is an important tool for physicians in diagnosing and treating neurological disorders and diseases.