Precision Spine and Peripheral Nerve Center
The UCSF Precision Spine and Peripheral Nerve Center diagnoses and treats complex spine, back and nerve pain. Our patients benefit from the combination of advanced imaging technology and expertise in neuroradiology.
During spinal procedures, we use state-of-the-art MRI and CT scanners for unparalleled precision and patient safety. We are the only medical center in Northern California to integrate high-field MRI and high-resolution CT for the diagnosis and treatment of spine and peripheral nerve problems. With this capability, we often can locate the true source of someone's pain and then safely deliver pain medication to that location with pinpoint accuracy. In addition, we use low-dose CT and X-ray fluoroscopy techniques – pioneered by UCSF scientists – to minimize patients' radiation exposure.
Most of our patients experience a dramatic decrease in pain after our CT-guided spinal injection procedures. This relief allows them to participate in physical therapy, return to daily activities and, in some cases, take more time to evaluate surgical options. Some of our patients who have undergone kyphoplasty for compression fractures of the spine (surgical restoration of injured vertebrae) have been able to avoid having to use a wheelchair or enter a nursing home.
Our Services
We offer the following CT- and fluoroscopy-guided spine intervention procedures:
- Provocative discography
- Lumbar puncture
- Myelography
- Spinal biopsy
- Selective nerve root block
- Epidural injection
- Facet injection and medial branch block
- Radiofrequency ablation for facet and sacroiliac pain syndromes
- Sympathetic ganglion block
- Sacroiliac joint injection
- Epidural blood patch
- Spinal tumor ablation
- Piriformis injection
- Cyst aspiration and drainage
- Vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty and sacroplasty
- Minimally invasive lumbar decompression for spinal stenosis
Conditions Treated
- Cerebrospinal fluid leak
- Complex regional pain syndrome
- Degenerative disc disease
- Disc herniation
- Discogenic pain
- Facetogenic pain
- Peripheral neuritis and neuropathy
- Piriformis syndrome
- Sacral and vertebral compression fractures
- Sacroiliac joint pain
- Spinal deformity and spondylosis
- Spinal stenosis
- Spinal tumor
- Synovial cyst
Images and reports
Getting your results
A radiologist will review your images and write a report. When finalized, the report and your images will be available in MyChart, UCSF's secure online portal for patients. You can access this report as soon as this occurs, so you may see it before your referring doctor does. Learn more about receiving test results and medical reports in MyChart. If you have questions about a report, please contact your referring doctor.
To get a CD of your medical images and reports, send a request to the UCSF Imaging Library.
Sending images to UCSF
If you need to send medical images that were taken at another institution to your UCSF radiologist, you can do so through our secure online portal. For instructions, visit How to Send Radiology Images to UCSF.
Our locations
Support services
Plan your visit
What to Bring
- Photo I.D.
- Health insurance card
- Insurance authorization, if required
- Doctor's referral, if required
- Recent test results related to your condition
- List of your medications, including dosages, plus any you're allergic to
- List of questions you may have
- Device or paper for taking notes
