Written question asked by Brian Iddon (Labour) on Tuesday, 29 October 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 November 2002. It was answered by Adam Ingram (Labour) on Thursday, 7 November 2002 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the use of magnetic resonance spectroscopy brain scanning as applied to UK Gulf War veterans.

Answer: Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of magnetic resonance spectroscopy brain scanning as applied to UK Gulf War veterans. [78605] Mr. Ingram: Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) is a non-invasive radiological technique. It measures intracellular concentrations of specific abundant chemicals in small areas of the brain and is used to examine brain activity patterns and to identify very localised areas of damage within the brain. MRS has not been used in Gulf veterans' illnesses research funded by the Ministry of Defence. Some patients who attended the Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme have been referred to specialist neurologists who may have used this procedure. Gulf veterans also may have had MRS scans during investigations carried out during their health care under the National Health Service or Defence Medical Services.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 392 c454-5W;392 c466W; 78605
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Armed forces Diagnosis Health Iraq-Kuwait conflict Medical devices Gulf War syndrome Magnetic resonance imagers Veterans
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk