Neuroradiology

The Lysholm Department of Neuroradiology is based at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, Holborn, London WC1N 3BG.

Our main reception is located on the lower ground floor, Chandler Wing, adjacent to the canteen. We also have reporting offices and seminar rooms as well as some services located in Queen Mary Wing at the same lower ground level.

The department provides both a diagnostic and therapeutic service. The CT and MRI services are used to diagnose the following conditions:

• Acute stroke
• CSF circulation impairment and hydrocephalus using CSF flow Phase-contrast MR technique
• Dementia, cognitive disorders and neuropsychiatry
• Epilepsy
• Headache
• Infections
• Intensive and critical care patients (Including imaging under general anaesthesia)
• Movement disorders
• Multiple sclerosis and demyelinating diseases
• Neurometabolic disorders
• Neuromuscular imaging, brachial and lumbar plexus and MR neurography
• Neuro-oncology
• Neuro-ophthalmology, neuro-otology and cranial nerves diseases
• Neurovascular diseases
• Spinal column and spinal cord disorders

The interventional neuroradiologists treat conditions endovascularly, such as cerebral aneurysms, arterio-venous malformations and fistulae.

Nerve root injections are undertaken together with vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty for vertebral pathologies.

Location:

The reception for the ultrasound service at the National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery is located in the lower ground floor of chandler wing.

About the scan:

An ultrasound scan is a specialist scan that uses high frequency sound waves to create pictures of the soft tissues and blood vessels of the body.

You will be asked to lie down on a couch and the lights in the room will be dimmed so that the pictures on the screen can be seen more clearly. A small hand held sensor is moved carefully over the surface of the skin to view these structures from different angles. A water based gel is applied to the skin which allows the sensor to move more easily over the skin, it also helps to give clearer pictures.

We are only able to offer this service on an appointment only basis and only for specialist examinations such as Carotid Doppler and Echocardiography.

Requests for other types of Ultrasound scan are forwarded for booking by Radiology (Imaging Department) at University College London Hospital on Euston Road. This is to ensure your scan is performed by an appropriate expert. 

Results:

Following you scan a Consultant Neuroradiologist will report the images. The results will be available when you next have an outpatient appointment with your consultant or will be sent to you by letter.

Contact details:

If you have any queries regarding your appointment please contact Neuroradiology on 020 3448 3440 between 9am - 5pm, or via email at uclh.enquiry.nhnmrapp@nhs.net

Location:

The reception for the MRI service at the National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery is located in the lower ground floor of Chandler Wing.

Hours of operation:

The service operates between 8am and 8pm, Monday to Friday. Some specialist examinations can only be performed at certain times in the day. We will try to accommodate your needs. We are also able to offer weekend appointments.

Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time to allow us time to answer any questions you might have about your scan.

About the scan:

A MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan is a method of examining parts of the body using a strong magnetic field. The scanner is open ended and there is generally plenty of room for you to lie comfortably. There is a 2-way intercom in the machine. You will be asked to lie on a table with the part of the body being scanned in the centre of the machine.

The length of the scan will depend on the area of the body being scanned and the number of images required, please be prepared to be in Neuroradiology for up to an hour although some scans can take longer than this. 

During the scan you will hear a loud banging noise but we provide you with headphones or earplugs.

It is sometimes necessary to give you a small injection of contrast (a type of dye that highlights blood vessels and other structures in the body) into a vein in your arm and you should not feel any effects from this. This gives us more information if needed and helps us to make a diagnosis. 

eGFR: Anyone requiring the administration of this contrast is required to have their renal (kidney) function blood test called an eGFR; details of this will be with your appointment letter, please read this carefully as no contrast can administered without the results of this blood test and will result in your scan being postponed.

It is sometimes necessary to change into a hospital gown for a MRI scan but where possible please wear clothing without zips or metal fastenings.

Please contact Neuroradiology on 020 3448 3440 (9am - 5pm) or 020 3448 4744 (5pm - 7.30pm) if any of the following apply to you:

• You are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• You have had any operations likely to have involved metallic implants or clips.

If you have ever had any of the following:

• Cardiac pacemaker / coronary stents / artificial heart valve.
• Vagal nerve, deep brain, spinal column or sacral nerve stimulator.
• Programmable shunt.
• Cochlear implant
• Metal in or near your eyes.

All of the above implants need to be checked for their MRI compatibility before we can scan you. Failure to let us know in advance will result in your scan having to be postponed.

Results:

Following your scan a consultant neuroradiologist will report the images. The results will be available when you next have an outpatient appointment with your consultant or will be sent to you by letter.

Contact details:

If you have any questions regarding your scan or any of the above conditions or needs apply to you please contact Neuroradiology on 020 3448 3440 (9am - 5pm) or via email at uclh.enquiry.nhnmrapp@nhs.net.

Reception for the CT service at the National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery is located in the lower ground floor of Chandler Wing.

About the scan:

A CT (Computed Tomography) scan uses x-rays to give detailed cross sectional images of soft tissue, muscle and bone. The scanner is very open and quiet.

The length of scan will vary depending on the area of the body to be scanned and the number of images required, but should take no longer than 20 minutes. You will be asked to lie on a couch and keep as still as possible. 

During the scan it is sometimes necessary to give you and injection of contrast (a type of dye that highlights blood vessels and other structures in the body) to show more detail on the images. This will be administered by a radiographer or a radiologist in a vein in your arm. You may experience a warm feeling all over your body but this will pass very quickly. It is sometimes necessary to change into a hospital gown for a CT scan.

Please contact Neuroradiology if any of the following apply to you:

• You have diabetes mellitus, impaired renal function or take metformin as a blood test to check renal (kidney) function is sometimes required before your appointment.
• You have any known allergies.
• You suffer from asthma.
• There is any possibility of pregnancy.
• You require an interpreter.

Same day service:

The CT service is also able to offer same day scanning for out-patients referred for a CT scan (excluding steroid injections and some scans that require the administration of contrast) during their out-patient consultation at the National Hospital. An indicative waiting time is given at the Neuroradiology reception; however, appointments can be made for future dates before you leave the hospital if it is not convenient for you to wait. This service is offered 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Results:

Following your scan a consultant neuroradiologist will report the images. The results will be available when you next have an outpatient appointment with your consultant or will be sent to you by letter from your consultant.

If you have any questions regarding your scan or any of the above conditions or needs apply to you please contact Neuroradiology on 020 3448 3440 between 9am - 5pm or via email at uclh.enquiry.nhnmrapp@nhs.net.

Location:

Reception for the x-ray service at the National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery is located in the lower ground floor of Chandler Wing and offers a service to in-patients in the hospital as well as outpatients attending clinics at the National Hospital and The Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine.

Hours of operation:

The service for outpatients is operates from 8.30am - 5pm, Monday - Friday. Outside of these times an emergency service is offered.

Results:

Following your x-ray a radiologist will report the images. The results will be available when you next have an outpatient appointment with your consultant or will be sent to you by letter from your consultant.

We are unable to accept requests for x-ray from general practitioners.

Appointments queries:

Telephone: 020 3448 3440 (9am - 5pm)

Email: uclh.enquiry.nhnmrapp@nhs.net

Location:

The reception for the Angiography and Intervention Service at the National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery is located in the Lower Ground floor of Chandler Wing.

About the service:

The angiography and interventional service is consultant lead and offer’s diagnostic and follow-up imaging of blood vessel and tumour related pathology and abnormalities in the brain and spine. 

Treatment of certain conditions such as intracranial aneurysm & arterial malformations, tumours and spinal pathologies is also carried out by this service.

Patients are referred for this service by their hospital consultant after discussion of treatment and/or diagnostic options has taken place with a multi disciplinary team meeting including Consultant Interventional Neuroradiologists, Consultant Neurosurgeons and Consultant Neurologists.

Appointments for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are organised for us by the admissions office.

Contact details:

If you have any questions relating to this service please call 020 3448 4744.