Neurology and Neurosurgery

We offer the highest level of specialized care for any diagnosis, with more than 44 pediatric neurologists and seven pediatric neurosurgeons (doctors who treat problems of the brain, spinal cord, nervous system and muscles). Our trained neurologists, who are part of the largest pediatric neurology team in the United States, offer extensive experience in epilepsy, neurophysiology, neurology in intensive care, neuro-oncology, neuromuscular conditions and neurofibromatosis.

Experts at Children’s National are pioneers in intensive care neurology practices, which protect the brain health of our most medically sensitive patients. We take additional steps to create the safest possible environment for your child. 

We are a Level 1 Surgery Center, a distinction that recognizes surgery centers that have improved surgical quality, prevented complications, reduced costs and saved lives. In addition, we create individualized treatment plans in collaboration with multiple medical specialists for every child and have exceptional outcomes for even the most rare and complex diseases and conditions. Whenever possible, we opt for minimally invasive surgical techniques that allow for quicker recovery, fewer complications and shorter hospital stays. 

We are one of few programs in the United States with experience in nervous system function tests for children. We perform the latest and most advanced neurologic diagnostic testing, including:

• Electroencephalogram (EEG)
• Video electroencephalogram (vEEG)
• Evoked potentials (EP) tests
• Nerve conduction studies (NCS)
• Electromyogram (EMG)

Our team includes nationally and internationally renowned radiologists who specialize in the diagnosis of neurological diseases. We use a reduced amount of radiation and still produce high quality images with the best equipment available, even if your child has difficulty staying still.

Our advanced imaging tests include:

• Computed tomography (CT) scan
• Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Positron emission tomography (PET)
• Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)
• SWada (intra-carotid amobarbital) tests

We were one of the first teams in the world to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during epilepsy procedures (intraoperative MRI or iMRI). iMRI helps us accurately target the areas of the brain responsible for seizures and protect healthy brain tissue, which helps your child achieve the best possible long-term results and reduces the need for additional operations. We also use advanced non-invasive neuroimaging techniques to ensure the most precise treatment possible.

Led by Monica Pearl, M.D., our Neurointerventional Radiology Program offers treatment for all blood vessel-related conditions involving the brain, head and neck region, and the spine and spinal cord. Vascular conditions in the brain and spine can be some of the most difficult conditions to diagnose and treat. We now offer an innovative, minimally invasive solution at Children’s National. Utilizing the technology of very small catheters, our expert team is able to access parts of the brain that would normally be extremely difficult to reach or would require a more invasive surgery. 

Conditions we treat include:

• Intracranial AVMs (arteriovenous malformations)
• Intracranial aneurysms
• Intracranial arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs)
• Dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs)
• Vein of Galen malformations

The Children’s National Neurosurgery Division is consistently ranked among the top programs in the United States. We have obtained Level 1 Surgery Verification from the American College of Surgeons, a distinction that recognizes surgery centers that have improved surgical quality, prevented complications and worked to reduce healthcare costs and save lives. For epilepsy-related neurosurgery patients, our Comprehensive Pediatric Epilepsy Program is recognized by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers as a Level 4 epilepsy center, designating Children’s National as having the most specialized epilepsy care and innovative surgical techniques available.

Our board-certified pediatric neurosurgeons bring decades of experience and a compassionate touch to each procedure. Your child can receive advanced neurosurgical treatments through our use of minimally invasive approaches to neurosurgery, including:

Endoscopic brain surgery. We use pen-sized cameras and tiny instruments to carry out endoscopic procedures. Endoscopic brain surgery helps us remove brain tumors or access surgical areas in children with irregularly-shaped heads.

Visualase® magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided laser ablation. Using targeted laser beams, Visualase® destroys abnormal brain tissues (lesions) that cause drug-resistant epilepsy. Ablation is safe and provides lasting relief from seizures.

iMRI (1.5T intra-operative MRI). iMRI is especially helpful when we are removing specific areas of tissue, such as brain tumors. While still asleep, we wheel your child into an MRI machine right in the operating room to confirm we have completely removed the abnormal tissue.

Deep brain stimulation. Deep brain stimulation uses an implantable device to send continuous, low-level electrical impulses to areas deep within the brain. The impulses prevent the brain from firing abnormal signals that are linked to movement disorders and seizures.

Laser ablation. Laser ablation is a minimally invasive neurosurgical technique that uses lasers to treat a variety of neurological diseases, including brain tumors. The lasers precisely target and destroy (ablate) diseased tissue or brain tumors. 

ROSA robot for sEEg. Our robotic operating surgical assistant (ROSA) performs stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) to pinpoint the source of a child's seizures in their brain. By using ROSA's sophisticated software, we have the ability to perform surgery more precisely and quickly. Your child may be a good candidate for SEEG when their seizures are not responding well to other first line treatments.

Responsive neurostimulation (RNS). RNS is an innovative epilepsy treatment that uses an implanted device to help prevent seizures before they begin.

Hemispheric ablation for neonatal hemimegalencepahly. We perform hemispheric ablation for infants born with neonatal hemimegalencepahly, a condition characterized by a malformation of one of the brain’s hemispheres. Children born with this condition typically do not respond well to medications to control their seizures and therefore require ablation to remove or disconnect the area of the brain triggering the seizure.