Neurodiagnostics

The Neurodiagnostics Lab at UT Southwestern Medical Center offers the latest innovations in diagnostic techniques and the most advanced technology available. Our physicians are experts in providing an accurate diagnosis to create an effective treatment plan.

What Conditions Does Neurodiagnostics Diagnose?

Using neurodiagnostics, we can diagnose a variety of dysfunctions in the nervous system, such as:

• Autonomic disorders
• Brain tumors
• Epilepsy
• Head trauma
• Movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Neuromuscular disorders
• Sleep and breathing disorders
• Stroke
• Vascular disease

What Are the Types of Neurodiagnostics?

Neurodiagnostic analysis might involve several tests to pinpoint a condition or rule out others. Depending on the test, the patient may be awake or asleep during the procedure. 

Imaging

Imaging tests include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scans, X-rays, or positron-emission tomography (PET) scans. 

Specific tests include:

• 3-D rotational angiography: An X-ray study that looks inside the veins and arteries to detect cerebral, abdominal, or peripheral vascular abnormalities such as aneurysms
• Computed tomography angiography (CTA): Used to visualize the arteries and veins throughout various parts of the body; often used with conditions such as strokes
• Diagnostic and interventional cerebral angiography: Provides images of the veins and arteries in and around the brain; used with conditions such as strokes
• High-field MRI: Assesses brain alterations; used with strokes
• Magnetic resonance perfusion: Uses injected dye to see blood flow through tissue; used with strokes
• Transcranial doppler and carotid doppler: Tests blood flow in the arteries of the brain and neck; used in strokes and cerebral vascular diseases 

Electrophysiological Studies 

Electrophysiological studies include electroencephalography (EEG), a measure of electrical activity in the brain, as well as electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS). EMG uses a concentric needle to record the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles and yields very important diagnostic information. Alongside EMG, nerve conduction studies test how well and how quickly a motor and sensory nerve can send an electrical impulse. 

Other specific diagnostic tests include:

• Evoked potential: Stimulates a specific area of the body and records the signals as they travel to the spinal cord and a specific area of the brain; often used with epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, or Alzheimer’s disease
• Polysomnography (PSG), multiple sleep latency (MSLT), and home sleep apnea tests: Allow us to uncover not only common issues like sleep apnea and insomnia but also complex disorders such as narcolepsy and parasomnias. With simple home-based devices, wearable tech, and even smart rings, we can now track sleep patterns, breathing, and brain activity in ways that were once only possible in a sleep lab. In-lab sleep studies remain an important diagnostic tool as well.
• Quantitative sensory testing (QST): Assesses damage to nerve endings; used for neuromuscular conditions
• Quantitative autonomic testing or autonomic reflex screen (ARS): Assesses sudomotor (sweating), cardiovagal (heart rate control), and adrenergic (blood pressure control) responses; results can be valuable in diagnosis and management of many conditions, such as fainting, orthostatic hypotension, Parkinson’s disease, and postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
• Repetitive nerve stimulation: Assesses weakening muscle responses when nerves are stimulated, can differentiate nerve disorders from muscular disorders, and is often used to diagnose myasthenia gravis
• Routine and single-fiber electromyography: Measures electrical activity between the nerve and a specific muscle or a fiber of a specific muscle; used in neuromuscular conditions such as myasthenia gravis 

UT Southwestern offers several other diagnostic services, including:

• Cognitive testing: Used for memory disorders
• Gait analysis: Measures and analyzes walking patterns; used in conditions such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease
• Ocular physiology: Studies the function and activities of the eye and its parts; often used for multiple sclerosis
• Optic nerve testing: Detects visual problems with the nerve that carries visual signals from the eye to the brain; commonly used with multiple sclerosis
• Skin, muscle, and nerve biopsies: Takes small samples of tissue from the body for examination to identify and diagnose specific disorders