Neurology at UPMC

UPMC specialists provide services for the diagnosis and treatment of neurological, neuro-oncology, neurophysiopathology, movement disorders, degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, and dystonias and headaches. They also assist patients in the prevention and management of neurological complications resulting from terminal diseases of vital organs or associated with complex surgical interventions.

Book an Appointment

UPMC offers neurology services in the following facilities:

• IRCCS ISMETT – UPMC.
• UPMC Salvator Mundi International Hospital.

What is Neurology?

Neurology is the branch of medicine that studies, diagnoses, and treats diseases and disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system at a pharmacological level.

The nervous system is predominantly formed by only one type of cell, neurons. The central one includes the brain, cerebellum, diencephalon, brainstem and spinal cord. In short, it controls and regulates the functioning of the entire human body. The peripheral nervous system, on the other hand, is formed by nerves, which carry signals sent from the central nervous system to organs and other parts of the body, and vice versa.

Neurology Services at UPMC

UPMC provides neurological, diagnostic, and therapeutic services to people who suffer from a nervous system disorder or who experience symptoms related to disorders and diseases of the nervous system.

Through our neurological diagnostic service, people can take the following tests:

• Electroencephalography (EEG), an examination useful for measuring the electrical activity of the cerebral cortex. It allows to evaluate the presence and severity of the neurological problems encountered and to make a precise diagnosis of pathologies such as epilepsy.
• Electromyography (EMG), an examination that assesses the state of health of the muscles, useful to identify pathologies such as myopathies (muscle diseases) or those conditions that cause suffering of the motor nerves or spinal roots of a muscle, such as herniated intervertebral disc.
• Surface electroneurography (ENG), a fundamental examination to evaluate the functional integrity of peripheral nerves, which can be compromised as a result of various pathologies.

UPMC also deals with the prevention and management of neurological complications associated with terminal vital organ diseases such as acute or chronic liver disease, or that have emerged as a result of complex surgeries such as transplants or cardiac surgery.

Conditions Treated by Neurology

The different specialist areas of which neurology is composed deal with the damages, disorders and pathologies that can affect the organs and structures of the central and peripheral nervous system. Depending on the origin of the pathology, we can distinguish:

• Cerebrovascular diseases (edema, ischemia and cerebral hemorrhages), caused by alterations in blood circulation such as occlusion of vessels or rupture of their walls.
• Infectious and inflammatory diseases, caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa or parasites (such as encephalitis, meningitis or brain abscesses).
• Benign and malignant tumors of the brain and spinal cord.
• Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, frontotemporal dementia.
• Skull fractures internal and external brain injuries caused by traffic or sports accidents, falls or other events.
• Primary and secondary epilepsy. These chronic brain conditions are manifested by alterations in the state of consciousness and/or involuntary movements of the body.

Who Can Request a Neurological Examination at UPMC

UPMC's diagnostic services carry out examinations to ascertain whether or not there is a neurological disease or disorder, or to monitor its progress.

Our hospitals, in collaboration with our specialist departments, also assist patients already admitted to UPMC who experience acute neurological complications related to terminal illness or surgery.