Neurosciences Group

Neurology - Neurosurgery
Child-Adolescent Psychiatry and Neuropsychiatry
Neuro-ophthalmology - Neuroradiology - Neuropathology

UCMG physicians in the Neurosciences Group at CHLA provide diagnosis, treatment and consultation services to neurologists, pediatricians, psychiatrists, family practitioners, neuro-ophthalmologists and neurosurgeons who care for children with neurologic disorders. Group members specialize in treatment of children and adolescents with brain tumors, intractable epilepsy, orbital tumors, hydrocephalus, craniosynostosis, craniofacial abnormalities, vascular disorders, head trauma, neuropsychiatric disorders, mood and behavioral disorders, pain disorders, neurometabolic disorders, hereditary retinal dystrophies and basic neurologic and psychiatric problems.

Description of Programs and Services

  • Neurology

    Pediatric neurologists provide comprehensive, expert evaluation and treatment for problems in children involving the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord) or the peripheral nervous system (nerves, muscles and their connections). Common problems seen by pediatric neurologists include developmental disorders such as mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy, language disorders; epilepsy of all types; neuromuscular diseases including muscular dystrophy, neuropathies, myasthenia gravis; neurogenetic conditions including degenerative diseases, leukodystrophies, and mitochondrial cytopathies; brain tumors; movement disorders; gait disorders and ataxias; and acute neurological management of head injuries, anoxic injuries, neurological infections, strokes, encephalitis, etc. Pediatric neurologists participate actively in both acute and chronic rehabilitation of neurological conditions in children. The division has particular expertise in evaluation and management of children with paraneoplastic syndromes, particularly opsoclonus-ataxia due to neuroblastomas.

  • Epilepsy Program

    UCMG physicians in the Childrens Comprehensive Epilepsy Program within the Division of Neurology provide a multidisciplinary team approach to the care of children with intractable epilepsy. They provide data gathered from extensive diagnostic, medical, cognitive and psychosocial evaluations so referring physicians may continue to manage their patients effectively on a long-term basis. They also provide education and psychosocial support for families and children with epilepsy. Patients may be managed directly in the CCEP or managed primarily by their referring neurologist after undergoing a comprehensive evaluation at CHLA.

    The Neuroscience Epilepsy Surgery Team assesses the patient's eligibility for surgical intervention to reduce or eliminate seizure activity. Assessments may include MRI, PET and/or SPECT scan, and EEG videotelemetry, as well as neuropsychological, speech and language, psychosocial and psychiatric evaluations. The team develops a patient care plan for the referring physician.

    Experimental and newly-released antiepileptic drugs are available as part of clinical trials, and may assist in attaining seizure control for children who have intractable epilepsy that has not been able to be controlled by primary, secondary or tertiary medications.

    Both outpatient and inpatient EEG videotelemetry are available. EEG videotelemetry provides provides precise correlation of the electroencephalographic and clinical features of seizures, as well as differentiating among seizures, movement disorders, pseudo seizures and paroxysmal behavior changes of any nature.

    Members of the team have clinical research interest in the cognitive and behavioral aspects of epilepsy and it's treatment. Several projects in process are studying children with particular seizure types or syndromes as treatment is started, maintained or stopped. Effect of anticonvulsant medications on attention is also a clinical research interest.

  • Neurosurgery

    The UCMG pediatric neurosurgeons at CHLA perform a complete range of surgical services to patients with disorders of the central nervous system and its coverings (see Division of Neurosurgery for more details). Patients with the following conditions could be candidates for neurosurgical interventions:
    - Central Nervous System Infections
    - Craniofacial Disorders
    - Craniosynostosis
    - Cysts of the Brain and Spinal Cord
    - Brachial Plexus and other Peripheral Nerve Injuries
    - Head and Spinal Cord Trauma
    - Hydrocephalus
    - Neural Tube Defects
    - Neurocutaneous Disorders
    - Tumors of the Brain, Spinal Cord and its Coverings
    - Vascular Malformations

  • Brain Tumor Team

    The Brain Tumor Team provides a collaborative, coordinated team approach to the ongoing management of both benign and malignant brain, brain stem and spinal cord tumors in children and adolescents. UCMG physicians at CHLA are leaders in the Children's National Brain Tumor Group, which explores therapies for tumors not responsive to conventional modalities. The team is comprised of pediatric specialists from neurosurgery, neurology, neuroradiology, neuro-ophthalmology, neuropathology, radiation oncology and hematology/oncology.

  • Neuro-Ophthalmology

    Neuro-ophthalmologists diagnose and assist in management of conditions affecting the central visual pathways or disorders of ocular motility. Examples of these problems include neuritis, optic nerve glioma, myasthenia gravis, ophthalmoplegia, nystagmus, orbital tumors and hereditary retinal diseases.

  • Neurobehavioral Evaluation Program

    The Neurobehavioral Evaluation Program assists primary care physicians in diagnosing and managing patients with severe behavioral problems related to underlying neurologic abnormalities. These include patients with epilepsy, neurodegenerative disorders and post-traumatic or post-neoplastic disorders with or without developmental delay. The team's approach includes thorough neuropsychological testing as well as neurologic and psychiatric evaluation. The team develops a patient care plan to be implemented by the patient's primary care physician.

  • Child-Adolescent Psychiatry-Neuropsychiatry

    The child-adolescent psychiatrists are specialists in psychiatric and psychosomatic disorders in pediatric patients. They diagnose and assist in the management of primary psychiatric and neuropsychiatric disorders of behavior, mood, psychosis, anxiety, cognition, when psychiatric symptoms occur due to an underlying medical condition or head trauma, and in management of pain and pain syndromes. Expertise in psychopharmacotherapy, individual and family therapy is available.

  • Neuroradiology

    Neuroradiologists provide state of the art pediatric neuroimaging services, including magnetic resonance imaging with spectroscopy and magnetic resonance angiographic capabiliteis, GE 9800 Computed Tomography and Acusion color Doppler ultra for cranial and intraoperative sonography. Both single positron emission tomography and positron emission tomography are available. UCMG physicians perform cerebral angiography and myleography on children of all ages. When sedation for neuroimaging is indicated, the neuroimaging specialists closely monitor and evaluate pediatric patients according to the guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

  • Neuropathology

    Neuropathologists provide diagnostic evaluation for neurosurgical specimens, muscle and nerve biopsies and consultative services for neurologic and radiologic problems for both CHLA and other institutions. The physicians evaluate specimens and neuroradiologic images of children with developmental disorders and neurologic disease as well as brain tumors. Neuropathologists manage the national Childhood Brain Tumor Consortium and use its large database to evaluate brain tumors.

PHYSICIANS

Divison of Neurology Divison of Neurosurgery Child-Adolescent Psychiatry and Neuropsychiatry Neuro-ophthalmology Neuroradiology Neuropathology
HOW TO CONTACT US

Divison of Neurology

The Division of Neurology welcomes your inquiries and referrals. To contact us you can:

Call the Division directly at (323) 669-2471

Fax us at
(323) 669-2019

Write to us at
Division of Neurology
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles
4650 Sunset Blvd., #82
Los Angeles, CA 90027-6062


Divison of Neurosurgery

The Division of Neurosurgery welcomes your inquiries. To contact us you can:

Email us at: msamson@chla.usc.edu
Call the Division directly at (323) 663-8128

Or Fax:
(323) 361-3101

Write to us at
Division of Neurosurgery
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles
4650 Sunset Blvd., #102
Los Angeles, CA 90027-6062

Physicians who wish to contact a faculty member, consult about a patient or refer a patient can also call 1-800-ASK-PACE (1-800-275-7223). Please note, this service is for physicians ONLY.



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