A Comprehensive Guide To Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

Diagnosing TSC

The diagnosis of this illness depends heavily on the symptoms presented when a child or adult is brought into the office of a medical professional. When a child is brought in suffering from seizures, it might be one of the first things the doctor looks for using something called an electroencephalogram. Other tests include an MRI, a CT scan, or an ultrasound to see if there are additional tumors present. Sometimes TSC is diagnosed simply by eliminating other health problems throughout testing. If a child has a heart condition, doctors will check the heart using an echocardiogram. If it is in the eye, the doctor will use an ocular lens to determine the cause.

Treatment

There are various methods of treatment, but it is not entirely certain which type of treatment the patient will need until their doctor has been able to conduct a thorough examination. There are medications, surgeries, therapy, behavioral management, psychiatric therapy, and even vocational services currently being used to treat TSC. Medication is used when the patient suffers from seizures or other health problems caused by a tumor. Surgery is often required when tumor growth has affected the ability of any one organ to perform its necessary duties. If a child suffers from acne-like bumps, there is an ointment available to help minimize the appearance of these bumps to ensure the growths do not affect the skin any further.