Francesco Carletti – Consultant Neuroradiologist
Dr Carletti graduated from the University of Brescia (Italy) with a degree in Medicine and Surgery. He completed his training in radiology and neuroradiology with honours in Italy. He received a PhD in Neuroimaging from King’s College London (UK).
Dr Carletti is a consultant in diagnostic neuroradiology at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN) in Queen Square and University College Hospital. He has broad diagnostic expertise in imaging the adult brain and spine using computerised tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition, he regularly undertakes nerve root and facet joint injections.
Dr Carletti’s expertise includes the following:
- Neuroinflammatory disorders
- Brain tumour imaging
- Epilepsy Imaging
- Stroke and vascular imaging
- Functional MRI (fMRI and tractography)
- MRI CSF Flow Study
- Imaging of neurodegenerative disorders
- Spinal imaging and non-operative therapies, such as nerve root injections
Dr Carletti is a lecturer at the MSc in advanced neuroimaging at the University College London. Dr Carletti has worked with businesses and universities in exploring the possibilities that advanced neuroimaging techniques (diffusion MRI, tractography and functional MRI) bring to patient care. He has received awards from the Wellcome Trust, the Paris School of Neurosciences and the Italian Society of Neuroradiology for his research in decoding the wiring diagrams of the brain.
Dr Carletti has co-authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications in international journals and three book chapters. His research has been cited nearly 5000 times. A list o publications for Dr Carletti is available on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Carletti+F
MRI and CT scans
Neuroradiologists use two main kinds of imaging techniques to help diagnose and monitor disorders of the nervous system: Computed Tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). CT produces a series of X-rays taken very quickly in a circle around you and combines them to provide a detailed, three-dimensional image of your body. MRI use a large, powerful magnet and radio waves to create a similar picture of your body.
Contact Dr Carletti if you require:
- CT and MRI of the head and/or spine
- CT and MR angiogram of the Circle of Willis
- CT and MR angiogram of the neck vessels
- CT and MR cerebral venography
- MR cerebrospinal flow studies
Nerve root injections, Facet joints injections and sacroiliac joint injections
If your doctor cannot determine the cause of your pain using diagnostic tests such as an MRI or CT scan, they may refer you for a nerve root injection or facet joint injection.
A CT-guided nerve root injection is an injection of local anaesthetic and steroids in the area where the nerves exit the spine, using a CT scan as guidance. The nerve root injection may be diagnostic (determines the source of your pain) and/or therapeutic (relieves you of pain).
A facet joint injection is an injection of local anaesthetics and steroids into or around a facet joint. This is done under CT guidance. A facet joint injection is a diagnostic tool to determine if your pain is caused by wear and tear of your facet joints and may provide therapeutic benefits.
A sacroiliac joint injection is an injection of local anaesthetics and steroids into the sacroiliac joint, a joint at the bottom of the spine where it joins the pelvis. This is performed under CT guidance. This injection may be used to diagnose and treat certain types of back pain associated with sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
Contact Dr Carletti if you need any of these injections under CT guidance.
Dr Carletti accepts self-pay and insured patients.
