Abstract | UNLABELLED:
Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is an uncommon degenerative dementia characterized by gradual impairment of language function with initial sparing of the memory domain. Using semiquantitative 99mTc-hexamethyl propyleneamine oxime (HMPAO) brain SPECT as a measure of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), we investigated the relationship between reduced 99mTc-HMPAO uptake and the severity of dysnomia in PPA. METHODS: Seven right-handed patients with PPA had their dysnomia assessed by the Boston Naming Test (BNT), a subtest of the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination. Neuroimaging studies, including 99mTc-HMPAO brain SPECT, CT, and MRI, were performed. Correlational analysis between reduced rCBF and BNT was performed. RESULTS: Brain SPECT showed a reduction in 99mTc-HMPAO uptake involving the frontal and temporal lobes in all 7 patients. CT and MRI showed mild to moderate cerebral atrophy in 4 patients. Low scores on the BNT correlated with low frontotemporal 99mTc-HMPAO (Spearman r = 0.97, P = 0.004) in the 5 patients with left-hemisphere involvement. CONCLUSION: Decreased rCBF to the frontotemporal region characterized the cerebral abnormalities associated with PPA. The finding of focal rCBF abnormalities in the right hemisphere of 2 right-handed women corroborates that PPA symptoms may arise from a "non-left-dominant"-hemisphere degenerative process. Our results support the usefulness of rCBF SPECT imaging as a diagnostic aid in PPA.
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Authors | E C San Pedro, G Deutsch, H G Liu, J M Mountz |
Journal | Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine
(J Nucl Med)
Vol. 41
Issue 2
Pg. 228-33
(Feb 2000)
ISSN: 0161-5505 [Print] United States |
PMID | 10688104
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
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Chemical References |
- Radiopharmaceuticals
- Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime
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Topics |
- Aged
- Anomia
(diagnostic imaging, physiopathology)
- Aphasia, Primary Progressive
(diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, physiopathology)
- Cerebrovascular Circulation
(physiology)
- Female
- Frontal Lobe
(diagnostic imaging)
- Humans
- Male
- Neuropsychological Tests
- Radiopharmaceuticals
- Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime
- Temporal Lobe
(diagnostic imaging)
- Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
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