The Neurosciences Institute at Saint Francis Medical Center offers the most advanced technology for accurate diagnoses. Services include:
Ambulatory/video electroencephalography
Ambulatory/video electroencephalography helps in the diagnosis of a variety of neurological problems, from common headaches and dizziness to seizure disorders, strokes and degenerative brain disease.
Angiography
This X-ray procedure photographs the blood vessels using a catheter tube. The catheter is inserted into an artery or vein in the groin and is guided to the area under observation. Once the catheter has reached the appropriate area, X-ray dye is injected through the catheter, outlining the blood vessels. The outline makes it possible for a radiologist to see blockages or irregularities in the blood vessels.
Computerized tomography (CT)
Computerized tomography (CT) scans take detailed cross-sectional images of the body that are used to identify specific neurological conditions.
Electromyogram
Electromyogram is a noninvasive procedure used to detect abnormal muscle electrical activity in many diseases and conditions, including muscular dystrophy, inflammation of muscles, pinched nerves, damage to nerves in the arms and legs, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig disease), myasthenia gravis, disc herniation and others.
Evoked potentials
Evoked potentials are helpful in evaluating a number of different problems including spinal cord injuries, acoustic neuroma (benign tumor that may develop on the hearing and balance nerves near the inner ear) and optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve causes loss of vision and eye pain).
Intraoperative Neurophysiologic Monitoring
During surgery electroneurodiagnostic studies are used to monitor and evaluate the electrical activity of the brain and spinal cord.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
During magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the body is exposed to electromagnetic radiation that can detect, process and convert images of the body's soft tissue, such as the brain or spinal cord, into computer images.
Myelography
This X-ray test is used to examine the spinal cord or help diagnose leg or back problems. This test uses dye that is directly injected into the spinal canal to show areas where the spinal cord is being pinched by vertebrae.
Nerve conduction studies
Nerve conduction studies (NCS) are a form of electroneurodiagnostics, which is the study of electrical activity in the brain and nervous system. NCS use surface electrodes to stimulate and evaluate nerve activity and can assist in the diagnosis of brain disorders and aid in evaluating the function of the nervous system in disease and trauma.
Nuclear medicine
Nuclear medicine is a technique that uses radiation to treat or diagnose diseases. Nuclear medicine is especially useful in detecting the absence or presence of a tumor. During the diagnostic process, radioactive materials, called radionuclides, are given to a patient. Radionuclides give off radiation that may be detected outside of the body after they have centralized in certain organs.
Positron emission tomography (P.E.T.)
Positron emission tomography (P.E.T.) scanning allows doctors to see how an organ functions, rather than simply its structure. This breakthrough technology is particularly useful in diagnosing some neurological disorders.