Neurology is derived from the Greek words neuron, which means “nerve,” and logos, which means “study.” Neurology is a branch of medicine that focuses on nervous system and brain disorders. A neurologist is a doctor who specializes in neurology and spends most of his or her time researching, diagnosing, and treating neurological diseases. A neurologist can also be a neurosurgeon, a surgeon who specializes in nerve, brain, and spinal cord operations. Pediatric is derived from the Greek word for child, and a pediatric neurologist, also known as a Child Neurology specialist, specializes in the treatment of infants and children.
The training for a pediatric neurologist who wants to become a neurosurgeon, like any other specialty, is the most extensive of any, at least in the United States. Pediatric neurosurgeons treat congenital and acquired malformations, as well as removing pathological growths, treating injuries, and implanting medical devices. A pediatric neurosurgeon may use a variety of imaging techniques during diagnosis and surgery, including CT (Computed Tomography), MEG (Magnetoencephalography), MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), and PET (Positron Emission Tomography) (Positron Emission Tomography). A pediatric neurologist’s primary focus may be on research. EEG (Electroencephalography), fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging), NIRS (Near Infrared Spectroscopy), Single-Cell Recording, TDCS (Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation), and TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) are all neuroimaging techniques that are frequently used in research (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation).
Tumors of the brain and spinal cord, which fall under the category of pediatric neuro-oncology, are frequently treated by a pediatric neurosurgeon. Other common diagnoses include craniosynostosis, or early closure of the skull sutures; hydrocephalus, or fluid build-up in the brain; intractable epilepsy; spina bifida, or the failure of the backbone and spinal cord to close before birth; syringomyelia, or spinal cord damage caused by a fluid-filled area; and other deformities of the spine. When their patients’ diagnoses fall at the intersection of two or more medical specialties, or when there is a primary care physician — in the case of children, a pediatrician — who should play a role in treatment, pediatric neurologists frequently collaborate with other doctors. Prenatal counseling may also be provided by a pediatric neurologist.