Brain & Spine Center

Diagnostic Testing

Our Brain and Spine Center offers full spectrum evaluations, which include neuro-diagnostics, outpatient assessments, inpatient and outpatient electrodiagnostics, genetic evaluation and counseling and sub-specialty consultation and follow-up for each of these conditions. The Child First and Always will always guide our philosophy of care, but we'll continue to look for new technology, equipment and techniques to improve care for our patients and families.

Tests and Diagnostic Procedures

As a Brain and Spine Center patient, these are the following types of tests and diagnostic procedures that your child may experience:

Eelectroencephalography (EEG)

An electroencephalography (EEG) is a diagnostic test which provides information about the electrical activity in the brain.

An electroencephalography (EEG) is a diagnostic test which provides information about the electrical activity in the brain. The test results can provide important information for diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders.

We understand that children need special care, which is why we stay up on safe EEG technology to help doctors diagnose childhood seizures and other neurological disorders. Our specialists work hand in hand with our pediatric neurologists to determine the best treatment plan.

As part of our commitment to family centered care, parents are encouraged to accompany their child to the test and our staff explains each step of the procedure.

Our Outpatient EEG Lab is accredited by ABRET, which evaluates labs based on strict technical standards and the ability to demonstrate quality output. We are one of only two ABRET accredited labs in the Intermountain region.

Electromyography (EMG)

Electromyography (EMG) is a diagnostic procedure to assess the health of muscles and the nerve cells that control them.

University of Utah Pediatric Neurology department provides nerve conduction studies/electromyograms (NCS/EMGs) at Primary Children’s Hospital. This test allows for the evaluation of the peripheral nervous system and of the muscles. Your child’s doctor may order this test if they have weakness and/or numbness that may be due to a problem in their peripheral nerves (nerves outside the brain and spinal cord), muscles, or the junction between the peripheral nerves and muscle (called the neuromuscular junction).

This test is a two-part test. The first portion, called a nerve conduction study, evaluates the strength of the response of the peripheral nerves when a small electrical current is applied and the speed at which they transmit their messages in the affected body part. The second part of the study is the electromyogram in which a small needle electrode is placed into muscles to evaluate the electrical activity of the muscles. This electrical activity is translated into a waveform and sound that can be interpreted by the physician. This can provide information on the health of the muscles as well as the nerves that supply those muscles.

If your child has been referred for a NCS/EMG, please see the following link for more information on what to expect and how you can prepare your child for this test.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

A functional MRI is a mapping of the brain and used on patients with specific seizure types or MRI abnormalities.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

MRIs are used to look for structural abnormalities in the brain and spine. To learn more about MRIs at Primary Children's Hospital, visit our pediatric imaging website.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

PET scans are used to look for glucose uptake of the seizure active zone between seizures.

ROSA Brain

The ROSA Brain provides improved accuracy and decreased OR time for depth electrode placement.

Single-photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT)

Single-photon Emission CTs are used to look for blood flow, which will be increased in a seizure zone.

Transmagnetic Stimulation

TMS is a non-invasive outpatient procedure for epilepsy and tumor patients which provides greater accuracy, smaller incisions and reduced OR and MRI time.

Wada Test

The Wada test establishes cerebral language and memory representation of each brain hemisphere.

In 2017, our program became the first in the West to begin using transmagentic stimulation (TMS) and ROSA Brain to provide even more exceptional care to our patients. TMS is a non-invasive outpatient procedure for epilepsy & tumor patients and provides greater accuracy, smaller incisions and reduced OR and MRI time. ROSA Brain also offers improved accuracy and decreased OR time for depth electrode placement, resulting in decreased injuries in endo and navigated procedures. 

Together, these technologies use fewer resources, change how we surgically treat drug-resistant epilepsy, decreases patient risk, shortens hospital stays by up to five days and provides safer, lower cost (but higher value) surgical care. 