Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 positron emission tomography in a case of slowly progressive pure alexia.

Abstract

We describe a 71-year-old patient with slowly progressive pure alexia in which analysis of her fluorodeoxyglucose FDG-PET scan revealed an area of focal hypometabolism in the visual word form area. She presented with difficulty reading. Examination revealed pure alexia with preservation of other cognitive domains. Brain MRI revealed only slight atrophy. A Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 positron emission tomography scan revealed hypometabolism in the occipital cortex bilaterally, left greater than right, with normal metabolism elsewhere in the brain. This case highlights the utility of FDG-PET scan in evaluating focal neurodegenerative conditions before clear atrophy can be seen on MRI.

• Authors: Jonathan Graff-Radford, Eduardo E Benarroch, Joseph R Duffy, Daniel A Drubach
• Journal: Neurocase (Neurocase) Vol. 20 Issue 4 Pg. 476-9 (Aug 2014) ISSN: 1465-3656 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23998338 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18

Topics

• Aged
• Alexia, Pure (diagnostic imaging, metabolism, psychology)
• Atrophy
• Female
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Neuropsychological Tests
• Occipital Lobe (diagnostic imaging, metabolism)
• Positron-Emission Tomography (methods)
• Radiopharmaceuticals