Marton K I, Gean A D
Ann Intern Med. 1986 Jun;104(6):840-8. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-104-6-840.
The spinal tap, or lumbar puncture, has indisputable value; opinions differ, however, on the amount of that value. The procedure has variable utility depending on the clinical indications and the results of tests on the cerebrospinal fluid. Its greatest value is in the evaluation of infectious or malignant meningitis; for most other diseases, it provides additional, but not essential, information. Because of the potential risk of the spinal tap, decisions about when to do the procedure must be made carefully. A probability analysis is provided to elucidate the usefulness of data from cerebrospinal fluid tests.
腰椎穿刺术具有无可争议的价值；然而，对于其价值的大小，存在不同观点。根据临床指征和脑脊液检查结果，该操作的效用有所不同。其最大价值在于评估感染性或恶性脑膜炎；对于大多数其他疾病，它提供额外但非必需的信息。由于腰椎穿刺术存在潜在风险，必须谨慎决定何时进行该操作。本文提供了概率分析，以阐明脑脊液检查数据的有用性。
