Diagnosis

A diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is usually based on medical history, symptoms and a series of tests.

A neurologist (a doctor who specialises in conditions of the nervous system) will carry out the tests to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms, such as Alzheimer's disease , Parkinson's disease or a brain tumour .

The only way to confirm a diagnosis of CJD is to examine the brain tissue by carrying out a brain biopsy , or more commonly (after death) by post-mortem examination of the brain.

Specialist services to advise local teams in diagnosis are available at the National CJD Research and Surveillance Unit in Edinburgh and the National Prion Clinic in London.

Tests for CJD

A clinical neurologist will rule out other conditions with similar symptoms and check for some common signs of CJD by carrying out the tests below:

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scan uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce a detailed image of the brain and can show up abnormalities that are particular to CJD.
  • Electroencephalogram (EEG) records brain activity and may pick up abnormal electrical patterns seen in sporadic CJD.
  • Lumbar puncture a procedure where a needle is inserted into the lower part of the spine to draw out a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (which surrounds your brain and spinal cord) so it can be tested for a certain protein that indicatesyou may have CJD.
  • A prototype blood test for variant CJD has also been developed by the prion unit at the Medical Research Council (MRC) . It's available through the National Prion Clinic.
  • Tonsil biopsy asmall pieceof tissue can be taken from the tonsils and checked for the abnormal prions found in variant CJD (they're not present in other types of CJD).
  • Genetic test a simple blood test to find out whether you have a mutation (fault) in the gene that produces normal protein. A positive result may indicate familial (inherited) prion disease.

Brain biopsy

During a brain biopsy , a surgeon drills a tiny hole into the skull and removes a small piece of brain tissue using a very thin needle. It's carried out under general anaesthetic , which means the person will be unconscious during the procedure.

As a brain biopsy carries the risk of causing brain damage or seizures (fits), it's only performed in a few cases where there's a concern that someone doesn't have CJD but some other treatable condition.

Glossary

Biopsy
A biopsy is a test that involves taking a small sample of tissue from the body so it can be examined.
EEG
EEG stands for electroencephalogram. It is a painless test that records the electrical messages from the brain.
MRI
MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging. It is the use of magnets and radio waves to take detailed pictures of inside the body.
Tissue
Body tissue is made up of groups of cells that perform a specific job, such as protecting the body against infection, producing movement or storing fat.  
Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 28 Nov 2016