About

Justin Brucker, MD, joined the Department of Radiology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in July 2017 as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Neuroradiology Section. He is an upstate New York native who completed his medical degree at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, in 2008. His training included a residency at the University of Rochester’s Strong Memorial Hospital, which he completed in 2013, and a dedicated year of neuroscience research during his studies. Dr. Brucker further specialized through a fellowship in neuroradiology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, completed in 2014. His educational background also includes undergraduate studies at Cornell University, completed in 2003. His professional focus is in neuroradiology, and he has contributed to the department's clinical and academic missions through his expertise and research.

Research topics

• Surgery
• Medicine
• Pathology
• Neuroscience
• Anesthesia
• Psychology

Selected publications

• A quality improvement project to reduce magnetic resonance imaging sedation in children

  Pediatric Radiology · 2025-08-06 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Our institution decided to implement an awake MRI scanning quality improvement project using audiovisual distraction (AVD) technology. OBJECTIVE: To reduce the utilization of minimal/moderate sedation by at least 20% in children 4 to 18 years, while maintaining comparable diagnostic quality and adhering to allotted exam times, through the implementation of an awake MRI program. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This project was conducted at a pediatric sedation clinic between October 2021 and January 2024. We included patients 4 to 18 years of age, scheduled for an MRI at the pediatric hospital, and eligible for either minimal/moderate sedation or AVD. The outcome measure was the percentage of patients referred to our sedation clinic who completed an MRI with AVD and without sedation, analyzed on a statistical process control (SPC) P-Chart. Process measures were the number of children eligible for AVD per month, analyzed on an SPC C-Chart. Balance measures were the number of studies that exceeded allotted exam time or were non-diagnostic. RESULTS: Of 734 MRI referrals aged 4 to 18 years, 320 patients met inclusion criteria. Two hundred twenty-eight (71.3%) received minimal/moderate sedation (mean age [SD] 9.7 years [± 3.0]) and 92 (28.8%) underwent AVD (mean age 10.0 years [± 2.7]). The average monthly decrease in minimal/moderate sedation use was 28.8 percentage points. The average number of children considered eligible for AVD increased by special cause variation from 3.8 to 7 patients per month. All 92 MRI referrals triaged to AVD completed their MRI successfully without sedation; all studies were diagnostic, and 96% of studies were within the allotted exam time. CONCLUSION: We implemented an awake MRI program with AVD that decreased monthly sedation needs by 28.8 percentage points while maintaining a high rate of diagnostic studies and no MRI delays.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Sturge-Weber Syndrome Without Cutaneous Stigmata Versus Encephalocraniocutaneous Lipomatosis Without Craniocutaneous Lipomatosis: A Case Report.

  PubMed · 2025-01-01

  article

  INTRODUCTION: Sturge-Weber syndrome and encephalocraniocutaneous lipomatosis (ECCL) are neurocutaneous syndromes with unique presentations. CASE PRESENTATION: variant, confirming the diagnosis of ECCL. DISCUSSION: ECCL may have variable expression and should be considered in children with refractory epilepsy and an anatomical brain abnormality. CONCLUSIONS: Leptomeningeal enhancement is commonly found in Sturge-Weber syndrome but may be seen in other neurocutaneous syndromes, such as ECCL. Hemispheric dysplasia should raise suspicion for a neurocutaneous syndrome, even without oculocutaneous stigmata. Genotype-guided diagnostics for patients with atypical findings may facilitate targeted postsurgical management and lifetime surveillance.

  Publisher

• Unexpected pain with electrocortical stimulation in a teenager with temporal encephalocele

  Epilepsy & Behavior Reports · 2021 · 5 citations

  • Medicine
  • Anesthesia
  • Neuroscience

  Temporal lobe encephalocele has emerged as a potentially unrecognized cause of drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) that can be effectively treated with epilepsy surgery. Here we present a case in which a 17-year-old male with drug-resistant epilepsy and left temporal encephalocele underwent workup for epilepsy surgery, and experienced unexpected pain with electrocortical stimulation. Stimulation of stereo-EEG electrodes in the left temporal pole resulted in severe, unilateral left-sided facial pain due to inadvertent stimulation of the trigeminal nerve. Stereo-EEG showed seizure onset adjacent to encephalocele with no involvement of mesial temporal structures. A temporal pole resection sparing the mesial temporal structures and repair of the sphenoid bone defect was performed. The patient experienced post-operative seizure freedom, with no loss of language function or sensory deficits in the distribution of the trigeminal nerve. This case highlights temporal encephalocele as a potentially overlooked cause of TLE and underscores the anatomical proximity of the trigeminal nerve to the temporal pole, an important consideration for surgical planning.

  PublisherDOI

• Neuroimaging of pediatric abusive head trauma

  Applied Radiology · 2019-05-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• Nontraumatic Vascular Emergencies of the Neck

  Seminars in Ultrasound CT and MRI · 2018-10-28

  review
  PublisherDOI

• Fluid dynamics in syringomyelia cavities: Effects of heart rate, CSF velocity, CSF velocity waveform and craniovertebral decompression

  The Neuroradiology Journal · 2018-08-17 · 26 citations

  articleOpen access

  Purpose How fluid moves during the cardiac cycle within a syrinx may affect its development. We measured syrinx fluid velocities before and after craniovertebral decompression in a patient and simulated syrinx fluid velocities for different heart rates, syrinx sizes and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow velocities in a model of syringomyelia. Materials and methods With phase-contrast magnetic resonance we measured CSF and syrinx fluid velocities in a Chiari patient before and after craniovertebral decompression. With an idealized two-dimensional model of the subarachnoid space (SAS), cord and syrinx, we simulated fluid movement in the SAS and syrinx with the Navier-Stokes equations for different heart rates, inlet velocities and syrinx diameters. Results In the patient, fluid oscillated in the syrinx at 200 to 210 cycles per minute before and after craniovertebral decompression. Velocities peaked at 3.6 and 2.0 cm per second respectively in the SAS and the syrinx before surgery and at 2.7 and 1.5 cm per second after surgery. In the model, syrinx velocity varied between 0.91 and 12.70 cm per second. Increasing CSF inlet velocities from 1.56 to 4.69 cm per second increased peak syrinx fluid velocities in the syrinx by 151% to 299% for the three cycle rates. Increasing cycle rates from 60 to 120 cpm increased peak syrinx velocities by 160% to 312% for the three inlet velocities. Peak velocities changed inconsistently with syrinx size. Conclusions CSF velocity, heart rate and syrinx diameter affect syrinx fluid velocities, but not the frequency of syrinx fluid oscillation. Craniovertebral decompression decreases both CSF and syrinx fluid velocities.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Autoimmune Ataxia During Maintenance Therapy for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  Child Neurology Open · 2018-01-01 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Neurologic dysfunction during acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment is commonly associated with chemotherapy. Nonchemotherapy contributions should be considered for persistent atypical symptoms. We describe a boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who developed recurrent fevers, diarrhea, progressive ataxia, and neuropsychiatric impairment during maintenance chemotherapy. He was found to have cytomegalovirus in his serum and colon, but not in his cerebrospinal fluid. Instead, his cerebrospinal fluid revealed oligoclonal bands not present in the serum, suggesting an autoimmune process. Prompt treatment with ganciclovir and immunotherapy resulted in marked clinical improvement. Early recognition and treatment of an autoimmune encephalitis is paramount for optimal clinical outcome.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Early Clinical Experiences with Positron Emission Tomography–Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Epilepsy: Implications for Modeling the Neurovascular Unit

  Journal of Pediatric Neurology · 2017-07-19

  articleSenior author

  Abstract Cortical function in normal and pathologic neurologic states is largely influenced by the activity of the neurovascular unit. Hybrid technologies that combine positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) offer a chance for simultaneous noninvasive evaluation of cortical glucose consumption, blood flow, and cerebrovascular reactivity. We present differing PET/MRI results for two pediatric patients undergoing evaluation for medically refractory seizures, interpreted in the context of neurovascular unit behavior, suggesting the presence of ultrastructural changes at the level of the blood brain barrier in various epilepsy disorders.

  PublisherDOI

• Advanced Approaches to Pediatric Neuroimaging

  Journal of Pediatric Neurology · 2017-12-06

  article1st authorCorresponding

  I am pleased to present you with this special issue for the Journal of Pediatric Neurology: Advanced Approaches to Pediatric Neuroimaging. In preparation for this issue, we reached out to pediatric imaging specialists from academic centers throughout North America, and asked them to offer personal insight into their respective areas of expertise. The following pages contain the dedication and creativity of a talented group of doctors, and for me, it has been a true privilege to have collaborated with them.

  PublisherDOI

• Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma: Review of Standard Imaging Evaluation and Typical Findings

  Journal of Pediatric Neurology · 2017-07-24 · 2 citations

  article

  Abstract Evaluation of abusive head trauma (AHT) in children is an ongoing diagnostic challenge, as there are currently no standard criteria or objective tests for differentiating AHT from accidental trauma. The use of neuroradiologic imaging has an increasingly important role in identifying AHT and often involves a combination of skull radiographs, computerized tomography (CT), and conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with diffusion-weighted imaging, susceptibility-weighted imaging, and occasionally magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Development of more advanced imaging techniques includes diffusion tensor imaging and arterial spin labeling. MRI may provide insight into different mechanisms of injury and long-term impacts of AHT. A better understanding of the available imaging modalities, typical findings, and their respective contribution to an accurate diagnosis can help guide physicians, other health care providers, as well as law enforcement in the evaluation of children with suspected AHT.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Kent–André Mardal

  2 shared

• J. Guérin

  Mayo Clinic in Arizona

  2 shared

• Peter Kalina

  Mayo Clinic in Arizona

  2 shared

• Mary Rolfes

  2 shared

• Alok A. Bhatt

  Mayo Clinic in Florida

  2 shared

• David Hsu

  1 shared

• Chrysanthy Ikonomidou

  University of Wisconsin–Madison

  1 shared

• Neha Patel

  1 shared