What’s a pediatric neurologist?

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Neurology is the study of disorders of the nervous system and brain. A pediatric neurologist specializes in treating infants and children. Pediatric neurosurgeons repair congenital and other malformations, remove pathological growths, treat injuries, and implant medical devices. They use various imaging techniques and often team up with other physicians.

The word neurology comes from the combination of the Greek terms neuron, meaning “nerve”, with logos, meaning “study”. Neurology is the field of medicine that focuses on disorders of the nervous system and the brain. A neurologist may be a doctor who specializes in neurology, dedicating his or her time to research or the diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases. Alternatively, a neurologist may be a neurosurgeon, who specializes in operations on the nerves, brain and spinal cord. The word pediatric comes from the Greek word for child, and a pediatric neurologist, also called a specialist in Child Neurology, has a practice focused on treating infants and children.

Training for a pediatric neurologist who trains as a neurosurgeon — like training for any neurosurgical specialty — is the longest of any specialty, at least in the United States. Pediatric neurosurgeons repair congenital and other malformations, remove pathological growths, treat injuries, and implant medical devices. During diagnosis, as well as during surgery, a pediatric neurosurgeon may use a variety of different imaging techniques, including computed tomography (CT), MEG (magnetoencephalography), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (magnetic resonance imaging), and PET (emission tomography). of positrons). may also be involved primarily in research. Neuroimaging techniques often used in research include EEG (electroencephalography) as well as fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), NIRS (near-infrared spectroscopy), single-cell recording, TDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation), and TMS (transcranial magnetic). Stimulation).

Problems often treated by a pediatric neurosurgeon include tumors of the brain and spinal cord, which fall within the realm of pediatric neuro-oncology. Other frequently treated diagnoses include craniosynostosis or premature closure of the skull sutures; hydrocephalus, or accumulation of fluid in the brain, intractable epilepsy; as well as spina bifida, the failure of the backbone and spinal cord to close before birth; syringomyelia, spinal cord damage caused by a fluid-filled area; and other spinal deformities. Pediatric neurologists often team up with other physicians when their patients’ diagnoses are at the crossroads of two or more medical specialties or when there is a primary care physician – in the case of children, a pediatrician – who must have a role in the treatment. A pediatric neurologist can also provide prenatal counseling.




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