Diagnostic Tests

TMC's Neuroscience Center treats a number of neurological diagnostic tests to identify and guide treatment for a wide range of neurological conditions.

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Fast, comprehensive assessments

At TMC, we offer comprehensive diagnostic tests to help your doctor better assess if you have neurological condition, what type of condition and its level of severity to guide your treatment plan. Under the supervision of your doctor, highly trained technicians conduct many important neurological tests in our Interventional Neuroradiology Lab, Epilepsy Monitoring, Sleep Center, or Vascular Lab.

Two medical professionals reviewing brain scans on computer monitors.

Neurology diagnostic tests we offer:

An electroencephalogram, or EEG, measures and records the electrical activity of the brain. As an outpatient procedure, an EEG is useful in confirming epilepsy, to study sleep disorders, to check for problems with loss of consciousness or dementia, to help find out if a person has problems in the brain, spinal cord, or nervous system, or to determine if a person has a mental health problem.TMC offers a number of EEG tests, including BAER (brainstem auditory evoked potential), visual, touch and hearing studies.

Evoked potential tests, or EVPs, help diagnose disorders of the nervous system, locate the site of nerve damage or brain tumors, evaluate a patient's condition after treatment or monitor a patient during surgery. These tests measure the time it takes for nerves to respond to stimulation. Disease or other damage to the nervous system can affect how well nerves send messages to the brain. Muscle weakness, pain or numbness, vision or hearing problems, and other conditions may result. Nerves from different areas of the body may be tested.TMC offers a number of EVP tests, including BAER (brainstem auditory evoked potential), visual, touch and hearing studies.

People who have had transient ischemic attacks are at high risk for stroke and can benefit from quick access to neurological evaluation. Our outpatient-based clinic is designed to meet the needs of those who have a suspected transient ischemic attack.Patients receive a specialized assessment and comprehensive care plan to potentially prevent a future stroke shortly after their TIA diagnosis. The end goal of our interdisciplinary team of caregivers is to prevent a future stroke, avoid readmission and achieve a better quality of life.

Rapid assessment and preventative counseling

Convenient, consolidated services in a clinic setting

Enhanced quality for the continuum of care

The assessment begins with a thorough history and physical performed by a neurology-trained nurse practitioner.

Further testing including MRI, MRA, CT, CTA, carotid ultrasound, echocardiogram and labs are ordered as appropriate.

Clinical assessment and same-day testing is performed whenever possible.

After testing is complete, you will receive a consultation with a neurologist.

Clear and concise recommendations or a treatment plan will be discussed with you as well as sent to your PCP.

The clinic is once a week. Patients are referred by their PCPs or after a visit in the Emergency Department, if the ED physician deems it appropriate.

For referrals, please have your physician's office contact:TIA Screening ClinicPhone: (520) 324-5396Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.After hours and on weekends, providers should leave a message and fax the order/referral to (520) 324-5389. Phone calls will be returned by the next business day.

Interventional radiology offers an alternative to open surgical procedures and helps identify and address many neurological conditions. One of the most common services done in the lab is an angiogram. This is an X-ray test that uses a special dye and camera to take pictures of blood flow in the blood vessels.For neurology patients, the focus of the test is typically the brain (cerebral angiogram), or the head and neck (carotid angiogram). An angiogram can find a bulge in a blood vessel (aneurysm). It can also show narrowing or a blockage in a blood vessel that slows or stops blood flow. An abnormal pattern of blood vessels or abnormal vessels near a tumor can also be seen.

The Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) is comprised of five beds: three beds for adults on the Neurology Unit and two for kids in Pediatrics. These are designed to evaluate, diagnose and treat difficult-to-treat seizures in patients of all ages.EMU tests include recording seizures using a video camera and continuous EEG, as traditional EEGs may not provide enough information to treat your seizures adequately. Inpatient video EEG monitoring provides a more comprehensive picture of the brain activity.

The Vascular Lab offers comprehensive, coordinated tests for patients with vessel disorders in their brains or the neck. These disorders can cause things such as brain aneurysm causing subarachnoid hemorrhage and stroke.For more information, visit our Vascular Screenings and Exams page.

The Tucson Medical Center Sleep Center can help patients get to the root of their sleeping problems using advanced equipment and a staff of highly trained sleep technologists. The TMC Sleep Center is located off-site close to the support of TMC, yet away from the bustle of Southern Arizona’s largest hospital.For more information, visit our Sleep Center page.

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This health information is provided by the

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education & Research.

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Diagnostic Tests

Fast, comprehensive assessments

Neurology diagnostic tests we offer:

General diagnostics

TIA screening

Other tests & monitoring

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Evoked Potential Tests (EVP)

Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIA) Screening Clinic

What our clinic offers

What to expect when you visit

Referral information

Angiograms

Epilepsy monitoring

Neurovascular tests

Sleep studies

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