Single photon-emission computed tomography

UNLABELLED The aim of this SPECT study was to determine the initial abnormality and longitudinal changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in early Alzheimer's disease (AD) using statistical parametric mapping (SPM). METHODS rCBF was noninvasively measured using (99m)Tc-ethyl cysteinate dimer SPECT in 32 patients complaining of mild cognitive impairment, with a Mini-Mental State Examination score more than 24 at the initial study, and 45 age-matched healthy volunteers. All patients satisfied the diagnostic criteria of AD during the follow-up period of at least 2 y. Follow-up SPECT studies were performed on the patients at a mean interval of 15 mo. We used the raw data (absolute rCBF parametric maps) and the adjusted rCBF images of relative flow distribution (normalization of global cerebral blood flow [CBF] for each subject to 50 mL/100 g/min with proportional scaling) to compare these groups with SPM. RESULTS In the baseline study, the adjusted rCBF was significantly and bilaterally decreased in the posterior cingulate gyri and precunei of patients compared with healthy volunteers. In the follow-up study, selected reduction of the adjusted rCBF was observed in the left hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus. These areas showed the most prominent reduction in absolute rCBF on each occasion. Moreover, further decline of the absolute rCBF was longitudinally observed in extensive areas of the cerebral association cortex. CONCLUSION SPM analysis showed the characteristic early-AD rCBF pattern of selective decrease and longitudinal decline, which may be overlooked by a conventional region-of-interest technique with observer a priori choice and hypothesis. This alteration in rCBF may closely relate to the pathophysiologic process of this disease.

http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/41/7/1155.full.pdf

Longitudinal evaluation of early Alzheimer's disease using brain perfusion SPECT.

Since the first reports of transient global amnesia (TGA) were published in 1956, several neuropsychological and functional imaging studies have shed light on different aspects of this neurological syndrome. By establishing diagnostic criteria, Hodges and Warlow (1990b) have made it far easier to identify clinical TGA-related features. However, no comprehensive survey has been yet carried out in order to validate their criteria/findings or provide information about previously unknown features. In the present paper, (i) we review the literature published since Hodges and Warlow's study and seek to characterize the demographic and clinical features of TGA more accurately, (ii) we report 142 personal TGA cases, with supplementary information regarding both episodes and patients, such as precipitating events, associated symptoms and personality, and (iii) we suggest the existence of different groups of TGA patients, on the basis of a hierarchical cluster analysis. This revealed that in women, episodes are mainly associated with an emotional precipitating event, a history of anxiety and a pathological personality. In men, they occur more frequently after a physical precipitating event. In younger patients, a history of headaches may constitute an important risk factor. No link was found with vascular risk factors. The relevance of each of the above-mentioned variables is discussed in the light of our classification. An extensive description of cases from both the literature and our patient population allows us to refine the characterization of clinical TGA features.

/pdf/what-does-transient-global-amnesia-really-mean-review-of-the-3ohnhhi1yz.pdf

What does transient global amnesia really mean? Review of the literature and thorough study of 142 cases

The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com '--Copyright Blackwell Publishing

/pdf/hypofrontality-in-schizophrenia-a-meta-analysis-of-4cmmfx0x09.pdf

Hypofrontality in schizophrenia: a meta‐analysis of functional imaging studies

Thyroid hormones play a critical role in the metabolic activity of the adult brain, and neuropsychiatric manifestations of thyroid disease have long been recognised. However, it is only recently that methodology such as functional neuroimaging has been available to facilitate investigation of thyroid hormone metabolism. Although the role of thyroid hormones in the adult brain is not yet specified, it is clear that without optimal thyroid function, mood disturbance, cognitive impairment and other psychiatric symptoms can emerge. Additionally, laboratory measurements of peripheral thyroid function may not adequately characterise central thyroid metabolism. Here, we review the relationship between thyroid hormone and neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with primary thyroid disease and primary mood disorders.

The thyroid-brain interaction in thyroid disorders and mood disorders.

To develop non-invasive regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) measurements using technetium-99m ethyl cysteinate dimer (99mTc-ECD) and single-photon emission tomography (SPET), the same graphical analysis as was described in our previous reports using technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (99mTc-HMPAO) was applied to time-activity data for the aortic arch and brain hemispheres after intravenous injection of99mTc-ECD. Hemispherical brain perfusion indices (BPI) for99mTc-ECD showed a highly significant correlation (n = 22,r = 0.935,P = 0.0001) with those for99mTc-HMPAO in 11 patients who underwent both tracer studies. Using both linear regression line equations between99mTc-ECD BPI and99mTc-HMPAO BPI and between99mTc-HMPAO BPI and mean cerebral blood flow (CBF) values obtained from a xenon-133 inhalation SPET method in a previous study,99mTc-ECD BPI was converted to133Xe CBF values (y = 2.60x + 19.8). Then raw SPET images of99mTc-ECD were converted to rCBF maps using Lassen's correction algorithm. In this algorithm, the correction factor a was fixed to 1.5, 2.6 and infinite. In the comparison of rCBF values for99mTc-ECD SPET with those for99mTc-HMPAO SPET in 396 regions of interest in the aforementioned 11 patients, the fixed correction factor α of 2.6 gave nearly the same rCBF values for99mTc-ECD (50.1 ± 16.9 ml/100 g/min, mean ± SD) as for99mTc-HMPAO (49.9 ± 17.3 ml/100 g/min). In conclusion, the same non-invasive method as has been used in99mTc-HMPAO studies is applicable to a99mTc-ECD study for the measurement of rCBF without any blood sampling.

A quantitative approach to technetium-99m ethyl cysteinate dimer: a comparison with technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime

A non-invasive, simple method for the quantitative evaluation of brain perfusion is presented using intravenous radionuclide angiography with technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (99mTc-HMPAO). Graphical analysis was employed for the evaluation of the unidirectional influx constant (ku of the tracer from the blood to the brain. The ku values were standardized to provide objective and comparable values, brain perfusion indices (BPI), among studied subjects by setting the ratio of ROIbrain size to ROIaorta size at 10. The wholebrain BPI values for the normal control subjects showed a significant negative correlation with advancing age (r = -0.632, P =0.0204, n =13). The mean of the wholebrain BPI of 7.0 (SD =1.4) in 20 patients with cerebrovascular disorders was significantly lower than that of 10.6 (SD =1.5) in 13 normal control subjects. The BPI measurements showed only minimal intra- and interobserver variability. Changes of the ratio of ROIaorta size and ROIbmin size did not significantly influence the BPI values. Hemispherical BPI values in 19 subjects (n =38) showed highly significant correlations with the hemispherical mean cerebral blood flow values obtained from Xenon-133 single photon emission tomography (SPET) (r =0.926, P =0.0001 for the early picture method and r =0.932, P =0.0001 for the sequential picture method). This technique is easy to apply as an adjunct to SPET and may be helpful in the quantitative evaluation of brain perfusion in routine clinical studies.

A quantitative approach to technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime

The previously reported method for quantitative measurements of whole-brain or hemispheric-brain perfusion using technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (HMPAO) radionuclide angiography is now further developed so that regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) can be measured. Lassen's correction algorithm is used for the linearization of a curve-linear relationship between the radioactivity in the brain and blood flow as seen with single-photon emission tomography (SPET) images. In this algorithm, the cerebral hemisphere was chosen as the reference region and the correction factor α was adapted to rCBF in the reference region. This new method of measuring CBF from SPET has been validated in 33 normal subjects and 22 patients with cerebrovascular disease. Regional CBF values in 20 brain regions of the normal subjects were in good agreement with reported values measured by other methods. Regional CBF in the frontal cortex was greater than that in the temporal, parietal or occipital cortex for the entire age range. This hyperfrontal perfusion tended to be less pronounced with advancing age. Seventeen patients with unilateral brain infarction showed significantly lower rCBF than normal subjects. The infarct core showed a low rCBF value of 11.1 ml/ 100 g/min on average. An increase in rCBF after acetazolamide administration was observed and mesured with this method in five patients with unilateral occlusive vascular pathology. These results suggest that this non-invasive method (without any blood sampling) permits the routine measurement of rCBF from HMPAO SPET tomograms of blood flow.

Noninvasive measurements of regional cerebral blood flow using technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime

Three cases with cerebral ischemic symptoms and an intracranial aneurysm are presented. Using [99mTc]hexamethyl-propyleneamine oxime (HM-PAO) single photon emission computed tomography imaging before and during the Matas test, a quantitative measurement method was developed for evaluating brain collateral circulation. The evaluation correlated well with findings of contrast carotid angiography. This noninvasive method seems to be useful for selection of patients for appropriate surgical treatment.

Evaluation of cerebral collateral circulation by technetium-99m HM-PAO brain SPECT during Matas test: report of three cases.

This is a report of a patient who underwent high-resolution brain perfusion SPECT studies during and after an episode of transient global amnesia. During the attack, SPECT imaging showed increased perfusion in the left medial temporal region involving the amygdala and hippocampus. After recovery fro

Shiro Tsuji

Papers

A quantitative approach to technetium-99m ethyl cysteinate dimer: a comparison with technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime

A quantitative approach to technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime

Noninvasive measurements of regional cerebral blood flow using technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime

Evaluation of cerebral collateral circulation by technetium-99m HM-PAO brain SPECT during Matas test: report of three cases.

High Resolution Tc-99m HMPAO SPECT in a Patient with Transient Global Amnesia