Tc-99m ethylcysteinate dimer SPECT in the differential diagnosis of dementias.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Dementias produce deficits in perfusion, in part, reflecting decreased metabolic needs. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) studies have reported characteristic anterior-to-posterior perfusion gradients that permit distinction between the various forms of dementia.

AIM:

We undertook this study to evaluate the role of visual analysis of SPECT perfusion patterns for the differential diagnosis of types of degenerative dementia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Tc-99m ethylcysteinate dimer (ECD) was used with a dual-head scanner to generate perfusion images of the brain in 136 patients referred from the dementia clinic. Diagnosis was made by the nuclear physician unaware of clinical diagnosis.

RESULTS:

Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of perfusion studies for Alzheimer's dementia were 93.42%, 95.12%, 97.26%, and 88.63%, respectively, and for frontotemporal dementia were 96.29%, 98%, 96.29%, and 98.88%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

Tc-99m ECD brain perfusion SPECT is useful in the differential diagnosis of dementia with particular reference to AD as well as FTD.

• Authors: Madhavi Tripathi, Manjari Tripathi, Deepti Vibha, Naveen Gowda, Chandrashekhar Bal, Arun Malhotra
• Journal: Neurology India (Neurol India) 2010 Nov-Dec Vol. 58 Issue 6 Pg. 857-62 ISSN: 0028-3886 [Print] India
• PMID: 21150049 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Organotechnetium Compounds
• Radiopharmaceuticals
• technetium Tc 99m bicisate
• Cysteine

Topics

• Aged
• Cysteine (analogs & derivatives)
• Dementia (classification, diagnostic imaging)
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Organotechnetium Compounds
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon (methods)