DIAGNOSTICS IS A CRITICAL PART OF THE FORT WORTH BRAIN AND SPINE INSTITUTE’S PROCESS FOR ADVANCED PATIENT-CENTERED CARE. THROUGH A DISTINCT SET OF OPTIONS, WE CAN ASSESS THE PROPER CONDITION TO DETERMINE THE MOST EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS AND MODALITIES TO GET YOU BETTER.
- ANGIOGRAM – Arteriograms (angiograms) provide neurologists with a look at arteries going to and coursing through the brain. Dye is injected into a neck or groin artery to make smaller arteries visible to X-rays. Hospitalization is required.
- BONE DENSITY – A test that determines if you have osteoporosis — a disease that causes bones to become more fragile and more likely to break.
- BONE SCAN – A test to help find the cause of your back pain. It can be done to find damage to the bones, find cancer that has spread to the bones, and watch problems such as infection and trauma to the bones.
- COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY (CT) SCAN – or computer assisted tomography (CT or CAT scan) is a form of radiology or X-ray which uses computers to construct two-dimensional pictures of selected body parts. Dye may be injected into a vein to obtain a better picture. Other than needle insertion for the dye, this test is painless.
- ELECTROENCEPHALOPGRAHY (EEG) – An electroencephalogram (EEG) records the brain’s continuous electrical activity by means of electrodes attached to the scalp. It is used to help diagnose structural disease of the brain and episodes such as seizures, fainting, blacking out or falling out. It is painless and requires little preparation.
- ELECTROMYOGRAPHY (EMG) / NCV STUDY – An electromyogram measures and records electrical activity from the muscles and nerves. This may be helpful in cases of pain, numbness, tingling or weakness. Because small needles are inserted into the muscle and mild electrical shocks are given to stimulate the nerve, slight discomfort is experienced.
- LUMBAR PUNCTURE
- MRI – Magnetic Resonance Imaging – Scanning technique for views of the brain or spinal cord. No radiation is involved, but rather pulsed magnetic waves are used to delineate the structures within the brain.
- MYELOGRAM – A myelogram may be helpful in patients who have neck or back pain or suspected spinal tumors. Dye is injected into the spinal canal, making the structure clearly visible to X-rays. This test requires hospitalization.
- PET SCAN – A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test that uses a radioactive substance called a tracer to look for disease in the body.
- SHUNTOGRAM
- X-RAY – a type of electromagnetic radiation, just like visible light. An x-ray machine sends individual x-ray particles through the body. The images are recorded on a computer or film.