- Outpatient Consultations
- Inpatient Consultations at Somerset Medical Center
- Digital Electroencephalography ( EEG ) with digital analysis for spikes and seizures
- Ambulatory Electroencephalography
- Nerve Conduction Studies ( NCS ) & Electromyography ( EMG )
- Repetitive Nerve Stimulation ( RNS )
- Somatosensory Evoked Potentials ( SSEP )
- Carotid Duplex and Trans Cranial Doppler
Electroencephalogram (EEG):
This is a recording of the brain's electrical activity by means of electrodes
applied to the scalp. It is used to help diagnose diseases of the brain that
lead to or arise from disturbances in the electrical activity of the brain.
Symptoms that may require an EEG include episodes of altered behavior such as
convulsions or jerks in the body, periods of confusion or lapses in memory,
impaired responsiveness, fainting, blacking out or drop attacks etc. Digital EEG
may also help in monitoring response to certain medications. It is painless and
requires little preparation. The typical duration of the examination is 45 minutes.
It is performed by a technician and is interpreted by your neurologist. At Advanced
Neurology Center, we perform the EEG examination using digital equipment with computerized
analysis for abnormal waves.
Ambulatory Electroencephalography (EEG):
This is prolonged recording of the brain's electrical activity by means of electrodes
applied to the scalp that connect to a portable recorder that is worn on a belt by
the patient. Recording of brain electrical activity can be accomplished for extended
periods of time for up to 48 hours or more. This allows analysis of brain electrical
activity associated with infrequent symptoms that may not occur while performing a regular
EEG. The symptoms for which such a recording may be required are partially listed under
Digital EEG above. Ambulatory Electroencephalography also allows recording of brain
electrical rhythms during sleep when certain abnormalities may appear more prominently
as opposed to during wakefulness. It is painless and requires little preparation.
It is performed by a technician and is interpreted by your neurologist. We recommend
that you arrive for this test with a button down shirt so that you can change your
shirt easily without disturbing the wires. You or your family will be asked to activate
a button on the recorder called event marker whenever you experience any symptom and
also to simultaneously write down the time of and a description of such symptoms in a
log sheet that will be provided to you. This allows accurate correlation of your symptoms
with any changes in the EEG recording. At Advanced Neurology Center, we perform the
Ambulatory EEG examination using light weight digital equipment with computerized
analysis for abnormal waves.
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Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) and Electromyograms (EMG):
These tests are complimentary to each other and measure electrical activity from the
nerves and muscles. These tests may be helpful for patients who have symptoms such as
numbness, tingling, sensations of burning or pins & needles, weakness, wasting of muscles,
muscle cramps or twitches, neck & low back pain etc. Some of the diseases that may be
diagnosed with these tests include pinched nerves such as carpal or tarsal tunnel syndrome,
pinched nerve roots in the spine form prolapsed discs or arthritis in the spine, neuropathy
from diabetes or toxins, muscular dystrophy, myopathy, myasthenia etc.Nerve conduction
studies are performed by stimulating nerves and muscles by applying electrical impulses
to the nerves. This usually leads to a brief shock like sensation followed by some tingling
or by a brief twitch of the muscle supplied by the particular nerve being stimulated.
This test may be performed by a technician or your neurologist.Electromyography or EMG
records electrical activity directly from the muscles and is performed by using a thin
needle tip that will allow introduction of a recording electrode into the muscle. The
electrical activity in the muscle is assessed with the muscle in a relaxed state and then
while the patient actively contracts the muscle following instructions from the neurologist.
This test is performed by your neurologist.
We request that you do not apply any lotion to your skin for at least 24 hours before these tests.
epetitive
Nerve Stimulation ( RNS ):
This test is performed in conjunction with NCS & EMG when disorders of neuron-muscular
junction such as myasthenia gravis are suspected. The typical symptom from such disorders
is muscle fatigue or weakness with repeated activity without loss or altered sensation.
During this test, selected nerves are stimulated repeatedly with electrical impulses in
brief series and while recording the response of the muscle supplied by the nerve. The
computerized program allows for detection of reduced contraction of the muscle with
successive stimulation, which is a feature of disorders such as myasthenia.
Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SSEP):
These tests allow recording of electrical activity that travels up the spinal cord
and into the brain following electrical stimulation of nerves in the arms and legs.
It allows detection of injury to the nerve plexus or roots and the spinal cord, from
various diseases including multiple sclerosis & trauma. It is performed by a technician
and is interpreted by your neurologist.
Carotid Duplex and Transcranial Doppler (TCD) Studies:
These ultrasound tests are complimentary to each other. Carotid Duplex examination
allows assessment of blood flow through the carotid arteries in the front of the neck
and the vertebral arteries in the back of the neck during their course through the neck.
Transcranial Doppler (TCD) examination allows assessment of blood flow through the carotid
arteries and the vertebral arteries as well as their major branches within the skull after
they enter the skull from the neck. These tests are helpful in assessing various symptoms
that can arise from impaired blood flow to the brain, usually from 'hardening' of arteries.
It is painless and requires little preparation. The typical duration of each examination is
10 minutes. It is performed by a technician and is interpreted by your neurologist.
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