Conditions We Treat

Please see Congenital Abnormalities of the Central Nervous System for further information.

Amplified musculoskeletal pain syndrome is a condition that causes normal pain sensation to be stronger and more intense than usual. It occurs due to problems related to the brain and spinal cord and often occurs in children. Learn more about Amplified Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome.

Anencephaly is a birth defect that affects the developing brain and skull bones of newborn babies. Learn more about Anencephaly.

An aneurysm is a bulging weak spot in the wall of an artery and frequently occurs where arteries branch (usually in the brain, but can occur in other blood vessels, such as the aorta and peripheral blood vessels). Learn more about Aneurysms.

Arachnoid cysts are fluid filled sacs or cavities that appear on the arachnoid membrane and can present in many locations on the brain and/or spinal cord. Majority of these cysts are discovered incidentally and do not merit surgical intervention but rarely may cause headaches or progressive enlargement of the head. Learn more about Arachnoid Cysts.

When a tear occurs in the lining of one of the body’s arteries, this is known as an arterial dissection. Learn more about Arterial Dissections.

Arteries are the blood vessels that carry blood, oxygen and nutrients to all tissues of the body. An ischemic stroke occurs when an artery supplying the brain is damaged, ruptures or is blocked, causing the flow of blood to be interrupted from reaching the brain. Strokes can occur at all ages. Learn more about Arterial Ischemic Stroke.

An Astrocytoma is a form of brain tumor (benign or cancerous), that develops in the cells that form the supportive tissue of the brain. Learn more about Astrocytoma.

Attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity (ADHD) is the most common behavioral disorder of childhood, affecting 3 to 7 percent of school-age children. Learn more about Attention Deficit and Learning Disorders (ADHD).

An atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor, is a fairly rare aggressive tumor usually diagnosed in young children that forms in the tissues of the Central Nervous System. Learn more about Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor.

Autism refers to a group of neurodevelopmental disorders that makes it difficult for a child to interact socially, communicate verbally and non-verbally and connect with people. Learn more about Autism.

Bell’s palsy is a sudden unexplained episode of weakness or paralysis of part of the face muscles, usually on one side, that can occur at any age. Learn more about Bell's Palsy.

Dwarfism is a type of short stature. There are hundreds of different medical conditions that can affect ultimate size and/or the growth of an infant. Learn more about Bone Dysplasia.

Subdural empyema and brain abscess are serious infections of the brain where pus accumulates inside or around the brain, often as a consequence of sinusitis, ear infections, dental caries or even urine infections. These can result in severe headaches, drowsiness or seizures. An urgent intervention is often necessary. Hence a consultation or visit to the emergency room is recommended. Learn more about Brain Abscess/Subdural Empyema.

The brain and its coverings can become infected by a wide variety of infections which include bacteria, viruses and uncommonly parasites and fungi. Learn more about Brain Infections.

Traumatic brain injury or Primary injury to the brain occurs after a direct blow to the head which results in a diminished function of the brain. Learn more about Brain Injury.

The term brain tumor refers to an unusual growth of tissue seen in the brain irrespective of the nature and cause of the growth. Learn more about Brain Tumors.

Cavernous malformations are frequently small clusters of blood vessels that form abnormally. Learn more about Cavernous Malformations.

CDKL5 (Cyclin-Dependent Kinase-Like 5) is a gene located on the X-chromosome. The CDKL5 gene is required to function normally for a normal brain to develop. Learn more about CDKL5 Disorder.

Cerebral palsy is a condition that impacts the muscles, posture and movement. People with the disorder often have trouble moving or walking due to the limitations created by this condition. In many cases, complications that occur at birth can lead to cerebral palsy. Learn more about Cerebral Palsy from Birth-Related Complications.

Cerebral venous thrombosis is an increasingly recognized cause of stroke in a newborn baby, or children, about 40% of childhood CSVT’s. Learn more about Cerebral Venous Thrombosis/Cerebral Sinovenous Thrombosis.

The commonest types of Stroke in children are when the blood flow to the brain is interrupted due to a blood vessel rupturing or a blockage occurs Learn more about Cerebrovascular Accidents.

Please see Syringomyelia for further information.

The choroid plexus is the tissue that lies in the cavities of the brain (called ventricles and there are four of them) that creates the fluid (cerebrospinal fluid) which surrounds and cushions the brain and spinal cord. Learn more about Choroid Plexus Brain Tumor.

CLOVES syndrome is a very rare congenital disorder that is characterized by the presence of several problems together. Learn more about CLOVES Syndrome.

Concussion is the temporary abnormality in the way the brain works that occurs after a traumatic jolting of the brain following a blow, bump or shaking of the head (injury). Learn more about Concussions.

Congenital abnormalities of the CNS are birth defects of the physical structure of the brain or spinal cord that occur during fetal intrauterine growth. Learn more about Congenital abnormalities of the Central Nervous System (CNS).

Any unusual physical feature or health problem that is present at the birth of a baby is known as a birth defect or a congenital anomaly. Learn more about Congenital Heart Defects/Disease.

Craniofacial is a broad medical term that describes abnormalities of the bones of the skull and face. Learn more about Craniofacial Abnormalities.

A craniopharyngioma is a non-cancerous brain tumor that develops from cells present during early brain development, and in childhood frequently presents between the ages of 5-14 years. Learn more about Craniopharyngioma.

When a baby has craniosynostosis, however, one or more of the bones of the skull are joined together by bone prematurely, which lead to problems depending on which, and how many sutures may have closed early. Learn more about Craniosynostosis.

Cushing syndrome is a relatively rare hormone problem in children (it usually occurs in the 25-40 year age group) associated with too much of the “stress hormone” cortisol (which helps your child's body respond to illness or injury) being present. Learn more about Cushing's Syndrome (Hypercortisolism).

The myelin sheath is a protective fatty material that wraps, protects and insulates the nerve fibers of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. Learn more about Demyelinating Disease.

Whenever a child fails to reach a set of developmental milestone for physical/motor, in language and communication, social, or behavioral function, and/or cognitive ability at their expected time, it's known as developmental delay. Learn more about Developmental Delays.

Glial tissue are cells of the brain that protects and supports the neurons. Tumors that start in the glial tissue at the base of the brain in the brainstem area (which controls breathing, heart rate and blood pressure plus other functions) called the Pons, just above the back of the neck, are called diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas. Learn more about Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG).

Please see Spinal Cord Injury for further information.

Please see Bone Dysplasia for further information.

Eastern equine encephalitis is a rare but serious viral infection that causes inflammation in the brain, or encephalitis. Learn more about Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

Embryonic (fetal) cells are a type of brain cell that remains in the brain after birth and while embryonic tumors can occur at any age they most often happen in babies and young children. Learn more about Embryonal Brain Tumors.

Encephalitis is a rare inflammation of the brain, which has a number of causes. Learn more about Encephalitis.

An encephalocele is a rare disorder where the bones of a fetus’s skull do not close all the way resulting in a space through which the tissues surrounding the brain and brain tissue itself bulges. Learn more about Encephalocele.

Ependymal cells form the lining of the ventricles (fluid containing spaces) in the brain and the central canal of the spinal cord. Tumors that develop from these cells, (fairly rarely, though 6 percent to 12 percent of childhood brain tumors) are called ependymomas. The average age at diagnosis is between 2 and 4 years. Learn more about Ependymoma.

Childhood epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes an infant or a child to have repeated seizures over time. Some children may have difficulty in controlling the seizures in spite of being on multiple medications. These patients may be candidates for epilepsy surgery. All these patients should be evaluated in the multidisciplinary Epilepsy Clinic. After a thorough evaluation a surgical plan is formulated. The various surgeries include removal of involved brain or its destruction using a laser technology (Visualase®). Learn more about Epilepsy.

Erb’s palsy is a form of brachial nerve palsy that occurs in newborn babies which is characterized by weakness, loss of feeling and difficulty moving the affected arm. Learn more about Erb's Palsy.

In order to make facial expressions, (e.g. smiling or closing one's eyes) the brain sends a signal to the muscles of our face through the 7th cranial nerve called the facial nerve. Learn more about Facial Motion Disorders.

Please see Facial Motion Disorders for further information.

Fetal Alcohol spectrum are a group of birth defects that occur when a woman drinks alcohol while pregnant. Learn more about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Please see Congenital Abnormalities of the Central Nervous System for further information.

Fibrous dysplasia is an uncommon bone disease frequently affecting one bone (the skull or long bones of the arms and legs) Learn more about Fibrous Dysplasia.

Genetic diseases are conditions that occur due to a mutation in a gene ( a unit of hereditary ) in your body’s cells. Learn more about Genetic Diseases.

Glioblastoma multiforme are high-grade 1V, aggressively growing, cancerous glial tumors which infiltrate into healthy adjacent brain tissue, frequently occurring in both boys and girls aged 5-10 years. Learn more about Glioblastoma Multiforme.

Glioma is a form of cancer that develops from glial cells of the brain - those cells which support and nourish the neurons. Learn more about Glioma.

Astrocytes are star-shaped cells that are part of a glial network of supportive and nourishing tissue within the brain. One rare form of malignant tumor that grows and infiltrates aggressively from these cells and which spreads over the top and throughout the brain is known as gliomatosis cerebri. Learn more about Gliomatosis Cerebri.

Glucose transporter type 1 is a rare genetic disorder where the protein that is necessary to carry glucose from the bloodstream into the brain is lacking. Learn more about Glucose Transporter Type 1 Deficiency.

When the body’s own immune system mistakenly attacks the nerves of the body, usually following a gastrointestinal or respiratory tract infection, the group of diseases that result is known as Guillain-Barre syndrome. Learn more about Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

A Hamartoma is a benign, or noncancerous tumor. It is a mixture of normal tissues/cells that grow abnormally in the place where the tissue/cells normally are found. Learn more about Hamartoma.

Head and spine trauma refer to injuries or accidents that affect an individual’s brain and/or spinal cord. Concussion of the brain is a common occurrence in children especially while playing contact sports. This can be very disabling. Such children may be seen in the Concussion Clinic. Other traumatic brain injuries include intracranial blood clots, diffuse brain injury and fractures. These patients are best managed in a center capable of taking care of sick children and may be need to be admitted to the intensive care unit. Spinal injuries are also common and their treatment will need intensive management in the ICU and surgical stabilization in some cases. Learn more about Head and Spine Trauma.

Any type of pain in the head, neck, and face can be classified as a headache. Learn more about Headaches.

Hemorrhage means bleeding. Bleeding into the brain occurs after either a clot forms in a vessel carrying blood to it or a brain blood vessel breaks because of an abnormality or disease of the blood vessel. Learn more about Hemorrhagic Stroke.

Hereditary neuropathy is a medical term that refers to a group of different inherited medical conditions that cause progressive loss of function (and sensation) from abnormally working nerves that carry signals from the spinal cord to muscles. Learn more about Hereditary Neuropathy.

Hydrocephalus is primarily an excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain. This excess of cerebrospinal fluid accumulation causes the fluid spaces of the brain to enlarge causing pressure on the surrounding brain. The causes of hydrocephalus may be congenital, following a bleed into the brain (intraventricular hemorrhage), infections, malformations of the brain or even brain tumors in certain locations of the brain. The treatment options include endoscopic third ventriculostomy, cauterization of the choroid plexus, shunt placement. Learn more about Hydrocephalus.

Hyperhidrosis is the medical term for excessive sweating. Learn more about Hyperhidrosis.

Please see Neurogenetic–Neurometabolic Abnormalities for further information.

Inflammation is the process that the body uses to respond to an infection or irritating process. Learn more about Inflammatory Brain or Spine Disease.

Please see Hemorrhagic Stroke for further information.

“Ischemia” is the lack of blood supply to an organ resulting in not enough oxygen being delivered to meet the needs of the organ to function normally. When this happens to the blood supply of the brain it's called an “ischemic stroke”. Learn more about Ischemic Stroke.

Landau-Kleffner syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that causes sudden or gradual development of language difficulties and, in some cases recurrent seizures in children, starting between the ages of 2 and 8 years. Learn more about Landau-Kleffner Syndrome.

Learning disabilities and disorders are brain based processing difficulties which interfere with learning skills like reading, writing and doing mathematics. Children with learning disorders usually have normal intellectual ability. Learn more about Learning Disorders and Disabilities.

Leukodystrophy refers to a group of rare progressive diseases that affect the white matter of the brain (myelin), causing a slowing or blockage in brain signals. Learn more about Leukodystrophy.

When a child has a head circumference that is larger than normal (for the infant's gestational age, age, sex and race), the medical term is macrocephaly. Most often these children may have an accelerated growth in the first few months after delivery and often have a family history of macrocephaly. The head circumference stabilizes at 18-24 months. Other serious causes of a large head should be excluded. Learn more about Macrocephaly.

Gliomas are tumors formed from cells (glial cells) that hold the nerve cells in the brain in place, protect them and provide them with food and oxygen. Gliomas are divided into four grades of severity (1-1V) depending on the tumor cells’ appearance. The higher the grade the more severe the glioma. Learn more about Malignant Glioma.

Of cancerous brain tumors that can affect children, medulloblastoma is the most common. They represent about 20 percent if childhood brain tumors, particularly in children between the ages of 3 and 8 years, with boys affected more than girls. Learn more about Medulloblastoma.

Please see Myelomeningocele for further information.

When the sutures in the middle of the forehead of an infant close earlier than they should, it’s known as metopic synotosis. A triangular pointed skull is a noticeable sign of this condition. Learn more about Metopic Synostosis.

When a newborn baby or an infant's head is found to be much smaller than normal for its age, the condition is known as microcephaly. Learn more about Microcephaly.

Please see Spasticity and Movement Disorders for further information.

Moyamoya disease is a rare disease, frequently seen in children, that causes the blood vessels in the brain to narrow. There are many causes for this disease and treatment is tailored according to the severity of the disease. Learn more about Moyamoya Disease.

Multiple sclerosis (MS), is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system, attacks and inflames the central nervous system and organs. Learn more about Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Muscular dystrophy describes a broad group of many ( there are 9 major types ), chronic, progressive illnesses that cause the muscles of the body to become increasingly weak and less flexible over time. Learn more about Muscular Dystrophy (MD).

MG in a rare chronic autoimmune disease in children of all ages, it is characterized by muscle weakness of varying degree in many different areas of the body, it commonly affects the eyes, mouth, throat, arms and legs. Learn more about Myasthenia Gravis.

A myelomeningocele is a bulge or sac of the fluid that surround the spinal cord. Learn more about Myelomeningocele.

Please see Muscular Dystrophy for further information.

Nerves are the system of fibers that carry signals from the brain to the rest of the body. When an injury or damage occurs to one or many nerves, these are known as nerve injuries. Learn more about Nerve Injuries.

Any condition that adversely affects the function of any part of the nervous system is called a nervous system disorder. Learn more about Nervous System Disorders.

A neural tube defect is a birth defect that occurs very early in the development of a fetus, often during the first month of pregnancy, where the brain, spinal cord and spinal column do not develop normally. In some children there is an open defect at birth which needs to be repaired within 24 hours while others may have a skin covered swelling which can be repaired more electively. Learn more about Neural Tube Defects.

Neurocutaneous syndromes is a broad term for a group of rare neurological lifelong disorders that cause tumors to grow inside the spinal cord, brain, skin, skeletal bones and other organs. Learn more about Neurocutaneous Syndromes.

Neurofibrosarcoma is a rare type of malignant cancer in children that develops in the cells of the sheath of the arms and legs, spreading along the nerves. Learn more about Neurofibrosarcoma.

Neurogenetic and neurometabolic abnormalities are disorders that affect how the brain ( and/or other organs) function. Learn more about Neurogenetic–Neurometabolic Abnormalities.

Neuromyelitis optica is a rare and severe disease of the central nervous system that primarily affects the eye nerves and spinal cord. Learn more about Neuromyelitis Optica.

The brain and spinal cord contain many neurons and supporting cells. Neuronal and mixed neuronal-glial tumors are a rare group of tumors made up of cells of both types, which vary in degree of aggressiveness. Learn more about Neuronal and Mixed Neuronal-Glial Tumors.

Please see Brachial Plexus Injuries for further information.

The peripheral nerves are the vast network of nerves that transmits messages from the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) to the rest of the body. When these nerves don’t function normally it is known as a peripheral neuropathy. Learn more about Peripheral Neuropathy.

Periventricular leukomalacia is a brain disorder occurring in prematurely born babies which is characterized by brain damage with softening and death of the inner part of the brain. Learn more about Periventricular Leukomalacia.

Pfeiffer syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized by early fusion of the bones of the skull (craniosynostosis). This in turn leads to abnormalities of the head and face. Learn more about Pfeiffer Syndrome.

An astrocytoma is a type of brain tumor glioma, and pilocytic astrocytomas are a family of slow-growing, mostly noncancerous (non spreading-grades 1 and 11) tumors from glial cells. Learn more about Pilocytic Astrocytoma.

It is a condition characterized by a flattening of the skull on one side or on the back of the head. Learn more about Plagiocephaly.

Primitive neuroectodermal tumors are a group of cancers (malignant) that start in nerve cells formed in the fetus during early development that haven't developed the way they should have. Learn more about Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors.

Pseudotumor cerebri is a condition characterized by headaches and visual disturbances without an underlying brain tumor. While it is most commonly seen in young adults, it may be seen in children also. The causes may include obesity, certain drugs amongst others. The treatment options include weight loss, medications and in some instances, optic nerve decompression or CSF diversion. Learn more about Pseudotumor Cerebri.

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy is a general pain disorder that can affect various regions of the body. It is poorly understood but seems to stem from the autonomic nervous system, which is the part of the nervous system that handles involuntary functions like heart rate and blood pressure. Learn more about Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.

Rett syndrome is a genetic condition that impacts the development of the brain. The primary result is that the muscles that control speech, body movements and the eyes don’t work as well as they should. Girls are the primary victims of the disorder. Learn more about Rett Syndrome.

A seizure is a sudden abnormal burst of electrical activity in one or more parts of the brain that interrupt the normal brain signals and result in a wide variety of symptoms such as loss of conciousness and uncontrollable muscle spasms. Learn more about Seizures.

Whenever the skull bone breaks, regardless of the severity, nature, or extent of the breakage, it is known as a skull fracture. Learn more about Skull Fracture.

Any abnormality of a child’s ability to speak clearly and normally can be classified as a speech disorder. Learn more about Speech Disorders.

Please see Myelomeningocele for further information.

The spinal cord is a group of nerves that run down the back of a person that carries messages from the brain to the rest of the body. Acute spinal cord injury in children is fairly uncommon, frequently occurs in adolescents/ young adults and are often male. Learn more about Spinal Cord Injury.

A stroke is brain damage caused by either not enough blood reaching the brain due to blockage of or bleeding from blood vessels or from one or more of the large veins being blocked in the brain. Learn more about Stroke disorders and hypercoagulation disorders.

Syringomyelia is a rare chronic condition where fluid accumulates (syrinx) within the spinal cord. The most common cause of syringomyelia is Chiari malformation. Other conditions that may cause syringomyelia include spinal cord tumors, tethered spinal cord or shunt malfunction. Learn more about Syringomyelia.

A tectal glioma ( from a type of glial cell that nourishes and supports other brain cells) is a slow growing, generally benign (non spreading), brain tumor in children 3-16 years of age, situated in the upper portion or roof of the brain stem ( this area of the brain controls important body functions like breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure). Learn more about Tectal Gliomas.

A tethered cord is held fixed or held taught by a band (usually at the end of the cord) in the spinal canal. Learn more about Tethered Spinal Cord.

TM is a rare inflammatory disease of the spinal cord (frequently the middle or thoracic part of the cord) that damages the protective covering (myelin) of the nerves ( both for movement and sensation) that transmit information between the brain and the rest of the body. Learn more about Transverse myelitis.

Tuberous sclerosis is a rare genetic disease, often diagnosed during infancy or childhood, that causes benign tumors to grow in many parts of the body, including the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs and skin. Learn more about Tuberous Sclerosis.

Vascular malformations are congenital lesions of the central nervous system, resulting from abnormal development of arteries and veins. Learn more about Vascular Malformations.

The brain floats in the CSF fluid surrounding it, and the CSF circulates through the ventricular and the spaces around the brain and the spinal cord, constantly being produced and absorbed. Ventriculomegaly is a congenital (before birth) condition in which the ventricles of a fetus/baby are abnormally large. Learn more about Ventriculomegaly.