Clinical neurophysiology
Clinical neurophysiology is a diagnostic specialty, which uses the investigations of electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction studies (NCS), and evoked potentials (EPs) to assess function in the nervous system and assist in diagnosis, assessment of severity and monitoring of disease progression. Clinical neurophysiologists have to be familiar with the whole range of neurological diseases, from the common to the very rare.
The EEG is central to the management of epilepsy. Most investigations can be performed without overnight admission to hospital, but prolonged inpatient EEG monitoring of seizures may be necessary, particularly before surgical treatment. NCS or EMG are frequently used for entrapment neuropathy, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, but neurophysiologists regularly evaluate peripheral neuropathy and less common disorders, including motor neurone disease and myasthenia gravis. EPs have a role in the management of multiple sclerosis, diseases of the eye and in operative monitoring of nervous system function.
Clinical neurophysiologists work alongside clinical scientists, and have close clinical relationships with many other specialties that deal with diseases of the nervous system, particularly neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics and rheumatology, general medicine and geriatrics.
Specialty training
For information about specialty training in clinical neurophysiology, please visit the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Postgraduate Training Board (JRCPTB) website.
Specialist society
2010 Consultant Census
The RCP has completed our census of working physicians in 2010. Attached below is a breakdown of the report with results for this specialty.
Patient information
News
15 November 2011
Webstreamed events
18 October 2011
