A urine sample can tell you many things. It can reveal pregnancy, signal an infection or unmask drug use. Could it also tell you about brain tumors? Maybe.
Current image-based screening for brain tumors and other neurologic diseases is time-consuming, costly and poses some risk — especially for young children who must be sedated to hold still in the scanner. The ordeal is multiplied for children who have had brain surgery and need frequent checks for disease resurgence — especially if they don’t live close to pediatric neuroimaging facilities.