SPECT,CT and MRI in a Turkish family with huntington's disease

A Turkish family with Huntington's disease documented on CT, MRI and SPECT is reported. Whereas in clinically definite cases CT and MRI are of limited value and SPECT does not add anything of value, in one asymptomatic subject SPECT showed moderate caudate nucleus hypoperfusion, underlining the hypothesis that SPECT may have a role in predicting Huntington's disease.     

Juvenile spondylolysis: a comparative analysis of CT, SPECT and MRI

Objective To evaluate whether MRI correlates with CT and SPECT imaging for the diagnosis of juvenile spondylolysis, and to determine whether MRI can be used as an exclusive image modality.Design and patients Juveniles and young adults with a history of extension low back pain were evaluated by MRI, CT and SPECT imaging. All images were reviewed blindly. Correlative analyses included CT vs MRI for morphological grading and SPECT vs MRI for functional grading. Finally, an overall grading system compared MRI vs CT and SPECT combined. Statistical analysis was performed using the kappa statistic.Results Seventy-two patients (mean age 16 years) were recruited. Forty pars defects were identified in 22 patients (31%), of which 25 were chronic non-union, five acute complete defects and ten acute incomplete fractures. Kappa scores demonstrated a high level of agreement for all comparative analyses. MRI vs SPECT (kappa: 0.794), MRI vs CT (kappa: 0.829) and MRI vs CT/SPECT (kappa: 0.786). The main causes of discrepancy were between MRI and SPECT for the diagnosis of stress reaction in the absence of overt fracture, and distinguishing incomplete fractures from intact pars or complete defects.Conclusions MRI can be used as an effective and reliable first-line image modality for diagnosis of juvenile spondylolysis. However, localised CT is recommended as a supplementary examination in selected cases as a baseline for assessment of healing and for evaluation of indeterminate cases.     

Imaging in primary progressive aphasia

Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) presents with aphasia, with or without other minor cognitive dysfunction. We report five patients with PPA to show the correlation between their clinical signs and imaging findings. The patients can be divided into those with nonfluent (group 1) and those with fluent (group 2) aphasia. The characteristic speech impairment was bradylalia in group 1 and word amnesia in group 2. Impairment of comprehension was common but mild in both groups. On MRI, patients in group 1 showed predominantly left frontal and perisylvian atrophy with reduced uptake in the same region on single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using technetium-99m hexamethyl propyleneamine oxime (^99mTc HMPAO). Patients in group 2 showed left temporal atrophy involving the superior, middle and inferior temporal gyri, hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus on MRI and reduced uptake in the same region on SPECT. These findings correlated well with the functional anatomy of speech impairment. Received: 19 August 1996 Accepted: 9 September 1996     

MRI and SPECT findings in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Summary MRI was performed in 21 patients and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) withN-isopropyl-p-¹²³I iodoamphetamine in 16 patients, to visualize upper motor neurone lesions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. T2-weighted MRI revealed high signal along the course of the pyramidal tract in the internal capsule and cerebral peduncle in 4 of 21 patients. SPECT images were normal in 4 patients, but uptake was reduced in the cerebral cortex that includes the motor area in 11.     

Cerebral fat embolism studied with MRI and SPECT

Summary In a patient with fat embolism to the brain CT showed no abnormality. MRI performed after recovery from coma, when the patient had aphasia and quadriparesis, demonstrated multiple high signal abnormalities in the white matter on both T1- and T2-weighted images. HMPAO-SPECT showed left-sided hypoperfusion which resolved in parallel with clinical improvement 1 month later.     

Noncardiac findings on dual-isotope myocardial perfusion SPECT

BACKGROUND: This study examined the frequency of reporting noncardiac findings (NCFs), such as malignancies from inspection of raw projection images with dual-isotope single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) perfusion imaging, which could potentially be of greater clinical importance than myocardial perfusion imaging alone. Dual-isotope (ie, rest thallium 201 and stress technetium 99m sestamibi [MIBI] or Tc-99m tetrofosmin [TET]) SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging combines multipotential tracers for noncardiac purposes (Tl-201 for renal or splenic imaging, inflammation, or lymphoma and MIBI or TET for hepatobiliary imaging and detecting increased mitochondrial number or activity in neoplastic processes). These images are optimally interpreted with cinematic inspection of the raw projection data, but this may not be practiced uniformly in every laboratory. METHODS AND RESULTS: We reviewed 12,526 computer-generated text reports of dual-isotope perfusion SPECT studies from a 6-year period for NCFs. NCFs were categorized by organ and by probability of malignancy: high (eg, focal breast or lung uptake of MIBI or TET), intermediate (eg, lymph node uptake or thyroid abnormalities), or low (eg, filling defects in liver, kidney, spleen, or gall bladder; ascites; or pleural effusions). Confirmatory imaging studies or clinical confirmation for each NCF was sought. There were a total of 207 NCFs identified in 180 reports (1.7% of reports, ranging from 0% to 2.8% of reports of individual interpreters). Of these, 107 NCFs were unsuspected before SPECT; 24% were considered at high probability for malignancy, and 24% were considered intermediate in likelihood of malignancy. Follow-up data were available for 178 NCFs, confirming 88% of these findings, including 82% of breast foci, 62% of lung foci, 86% of hepatobiliary/spleen abnormalities, and 94% of renal abnormalities. The probability of malignancy was highest (82%) in breast or lung foci in which uptake of both Tl-201 and the Tc-99m-labeled agent was present. CONCLUSIONS: In patients referred for evaluation of myocardial perfusion, NCFs are unusual and require systematic and careful inspection of projection images for their detection. With Tl-201, TET, MIBI, or dual-isotope imaging, detecting and reporting NCFs may occasionally result in life-saving early cancer identification.     

神经梅毒的MRI特点及SPECT脑灌注成像的表现三例

目的 提高对神经梅毒的MRI特点的认识,并探讨SPECT脑灌注成像技术在神经梅毒的诊断和治疗中的作用.资料与方法 回顾性分析确诊的3例神经梅毒患者的有临床资料,包括头颅MRI和SPECT脑灌注成像的资料.结果 3例患者的头颅MRI表现各有特点:1例患者表现为右顶叶占位病变,另2例患者主要表现为脑实质多发性斑点状缺血性改变,其中麻痹性痴呆患者伴有脑萎缩.SPECT检查3例患者的脑血流,都表现出局部脑血流降低.结论 头颅MRI是神经梅毒患者影像学检查首选技术,对血清学复发和治疗后随访的神经梅毒患者可进行SPECT脑血流检查.     

Isodense subdural haematomas on CT: MRI findings

Summary MRI findings are described in two patients with subdural haematomas isodense on CT. In one patient, admitted 6 weeks after trauma, a chronic subdural haematoma showed extreme hypointensity on T2-weighted images, suggesting acute trauma, and therefore acute rebleeding. In the second patient with severe anaemia, an acute subdural haematoma was hyperintense on T2-weighted images, suggesting chronic trauma; this may be explained by the low haematocrit and a possible mixture of blood with cerebrospinal fluid. The MRI features of subdural haematomas and hygromas have to be kept in mind, in order not to misjudge the age of the haematoma.     

Reversible MRI and CT findings in uremic encephalopathy

Summary In this 35-year-old woman with chronic glomerulonephritis and uremic encephalopathy, the basal ganglia bilaterally, internal capsules and periventricular white matter showed hypodensity on CT, low signal intensity on T1-weighted MRI and high signal intensity on T2-weighted MRI. Following a series of dialyses, her clinical symptoms and blood chemistry improved. The CT and MRI returned to normal. These reversible abnormalities may be caused by reversible ischemic change, but disorders of cerebral metabolism and uremic toxins may contribute.     

Early-Phase SPECT/CT for Diagnosing Osteomyelitis: A Retrospective Pilot Study

ObjectiveThe aim of this pilot study was to investigate the potential of early-phase single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT) using technetium-99m methyl diphosphonate (^99mTc-MDP) for diagnosing osteomyelitis (OM).Materials and MethodsTwenty-one patients with suspected OM were enrolled retrospectively. Three-phase bone scan (TPBS), early-phase SPECT/CT (immediately after blood pool planar imaging), and delayed-phase SPECT/CT (immediately after delayed planar imaging) were performed. The final diagnoses were established through surgery or clinical follow-up for over 6 months. We compared three diagnostic criteria based on (I) TPBS alone, (II) combined TPBS and delayed-phase SPECT/CT, and (III) early-phase SPECT/CT alone.ResultsOM was diagnosed in 11 of 21 patients (nine surgically and two clinically). Of the 11 OM patients, criterion-I, criterion-II, and criterion-III were positive in six, seven, and 10 patients, respectively. Of the 10 non-OM patients, criterion-I, criterion-II, and criterion-III were negative in five, five, and seven patients, respectively. The sensitivity/specificity/accuracy of criterion-I, criterion-II, and criterion-III for diagnosing OM were 54.5%/50.0%/55.0%, 63.6%/50.0%/57.1%, and 90.9%/70.0%/87.5%, respectively.ConclusionThis pilot study demonstrated the potential of using the early-phase SPECT/CT to diagnose OM. Based on the results, prospective studies with a larger sample size should be conducted to confirm the efficacy of early-phase SPECT/CT.     

Medulloblastoma in children: CT and MRI findings

Our purpose was to determine whether medulloblastoma (MB) shows specific neuroradiological features which may be employed in differential diagnosis from other common posterior cranial fossa tumours in childhood. Preoperative MRI was performed on 20 children with MB, and preoperative CT in 17 of them. All underwent surgery and histopathological diagnosis. There was a constant relationship between high density on CT and low signal on T1-weighted images. Signal behaviour on T2-weighted images and the degree of contrast enhancement were more variable. Most tumours arose in the midline, from the cerebellar vermis, involving the fourth ventricle, but hemisphere and extra-axial neoplasms were also seen. The combination of high density on CT and low signal on T1-weighted images is highly suggestive of MB and may assist preoperative differential diagnosis from other posterior cranial fossa tumours.     

MRI全景矩阵成像技术在全身骨转移瘤诊断中的价值

目的 探讨全景矩阵成像(TIM)技术对全身骨转移瘤的诊断价值.资料与方法 对25例恶性肿瘤患者采用单光子发射计算机断层显像(SPECT)进行全身骨扫描与TIM技术全身MRI扫描,对两种检查方法进行评价比较.结果 25例中,MRI-TIM及SPECT共检出23例63个病灶,其中恶性54个、良性9个,TIM正确诊断50个转移瘤病灶,敏感度为93%(50/54),特异度为67%(6/9),阳性预测值为94%(50/53),阴性预测值为60%(6/10).SPECT正确诊断47个病灶,敏感度为87%(47/54),特异度为56%(5/9),阳性预测值为92%(47/51),阴性预测值为42%(5/12).两种检查方法的敏感度与特异度之间的差异均无统计学意义(P值分别为0.077和0.643).全身MRI的诊断准确率为89%(56/63),SPECT的诊断准确率为83%(52/63),两者之间的差异有统计学意义(P=0.000).结论 SPECT与TIM能有效地检出全身骨转移癌灶,但TIM对骨髓病变有较高的空间分辨率,比SPECT的诊断正确率更高.     

小儿癫痫的SPECT、EEG和MRI的对比研究

目的 评价ＳＰＥＣＴ脑血流灌注显像在小儿癫痫灶定位诊断的价值。方法 对７４例发作间期、１０例发作期,共８４例癫痫患儿行ＳＰＥＣＴ脑血流灌注显像及ＥＥＧ检查,其中６７例作了ＭＲＩ检查,并对各种检查结果进行比较。结果 ＳＰＥＣＴ、ＥＥＧ和ＭＲＩ的异常率分别为８２．１４％、７１．４３％和４７．７６％;ＥＥＧ异常的６０例患儿中与ＳＰＥＣＴ异常部位完全或基本符合率为７０．５９％;ＭＲＩ异常的３２例患儿中１７     

Heat-stroke-induced cerebellar atrophy: clinical course, CT and MRI findings

We report the clinical course and CT and MRI findings in a case of heat-stroke-induced cerebellar atrophy. Although the cerebellar syndrome was severe concomitant with the onset of heat stroke, no abnormality was observed on brain CT in the first 2 weeks following the event. Cerebellar atrophy was first noted after 10 weeks on MRI; it was progressive during a 1-year follow-up. Received: 30 November 1995 Accepted: 1 March 1996     

Diagnostic accuracy of rest/stress ECG-gated Rb-82 myocardial perfusion PET: Comparison with ECG-gated Tc-99m sestamibi SPECT

BACKGROUND: Although single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) have evolved considerably over the last decade, there is no recent comparison of diagnostic performance. This study was designed to assess relative image quality, interpretive confidence, and diagnostic accuracy by use of contemporary technology and protocols. METHODS AND RESULTS: By consensus and without clinical information, 4 experienced nuclear cardiologists interpreted 112 SPECT technetium-99m sestamibi and 112 PET rubidium-82 MPI electrocardiography (ECG)-gated rest/pharmacologic stress studies in patient populations matched by gender, body mass index, and presence and extent of coronary disease. The patients were categorized as having a low likelihood for coronary artery disease (27 in each group) or had coronary angiography within 60 days. SPECT scans were acquired on a Cardio-60 system and PET scans on an ECAT ACCEL scanner. Image quality was excellent for 78% and 79% of rest and stress PET scans, respectively, versus 62% and 62% of respective SPECT scans (both p<.05). An equal percent of PET and SPECT gated images were rated excellent in quality. Interpretations were definitely normal or abnormal for 96% of PET scans versus 81% of SPECT scans (p=.001). Diagnostic accuracy was higher for PET for both stenosis severity thresholds of 70% (89% vs 79%, p=.03) and 50% (87% vs 71%, p=.003) and was higher in men and women, in obese and nonobese patients, and for correct identification of multivessel coronary artery disease. CONCLUSION: In a large population of matched pharmacologic stress patients, myocardial perfusion PET was superior to SPECT in image quality, interpretive certainty, and diagnostic accuracy.     

Crossed cerebellar diaschisis in chronic Broca's aphasia

The cerebellum has anatomical connections to the cerebral cortex, through which it can affect language function. To study these connections, we investigated patients with chronic Broca's aphasia using MRI and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). We selected 15 such patients (9 male, 6 female, aged 17–64 years, mean age 56 years) from 30 chronically aphasic patients. Using the results of SPECT, we divided them into patients with (group 1) and without (group 2) crossed cerebellar diaschisis (CCD). We compared the language function of the two groups. Patients in group 1 showed classical Broca's aphasia, while patients in group 2 showed mainly word-finding difficulty. Patients with CCD hat infarcts involving the lower part of the frontal gyrus but patients without CCD did not, which suggests that this region may have functional and anatomical connections with the cerebellum. Our findings support the notion that the cerebellum contributes to language. Received: 3 July 1996 Accepted: 7 November 1996     

99mTechnetium HMPAO imaging in children with the Sturge-Weber syndrome: a study of nine cases with CT and MRI correlation

Demonstration of the full extent of abnormality in patients with the Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is important for prognosis and in planning surgery to remove the seizure focus. We compared single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), MRI and CT in nine children under the age of 4 years with seizures as part of SWS, in an attempt to determine the optimal method of imaging in different clinical settings. Seven unilateral and two bilateral cases were studied by interictal ^99mtechnetium hexamethylpropyleneamineoxime (HMPAO) SPECT, and contrast-enhanced CT and MRI, giving information on 11 abnormal hemispheres. All imaging modalities showed abnormalities in every child. Perfusion imaging showed focal regions of decreased uptake in 9 of 11 (82 %) abnormal hemispheres and demonstrated a widespread decrease but no focal defect in 2; it also revealed crossed cerebellar diaschisis in 2 cases. CT demonstrated typical gyriform calcification in 9 of 11 (82 %) affected hemispheres. Contrast-enhanced MRI showed more extensive involvement than contrast-enhanced CT in 5 of 11 (45 %) cases. The area of hypoperfusion shown by SPECT was smaller than the area of contrast enhancement on MRI in 6 of 11 cases (55 %), comparable in 3 (27 %) and larger in 2 cases (18 %). CT is sufficient to confirm the clinical diagnosis of SWS, but MRI frequently shows more extensive abnormal areas. ^99mTc HMPAO imaging is a useful addition when it is important to know the full extent of the disease, for example prior to surgery. It is likely to detect areas of hypoperfusion, representing ischaemic regions, which may act as an epileptogenic focus and may not be shown by CT or MRI. Received: 31 August 1995 Accepted: 27 March 1996     

The prognostic value of ECG-gated SPECT imaging in patients undergoing stress Tc-99m sestamibi myocardial perfusion imaging

BACKGROUND: The ability of stress radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging to predict adverse cardiac events is well accepted. As left ventricular systolic function has also been shown to be an important prognostic indicator, the objective of this study was to determine whether electrocardiography (ECG)-gated single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) functional data add additional power. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study 3207 patients who underwent stress myocardial perfusion imaging with ECG gating, without early (相似文献   

Mutidetector-row CT and quantitative gated SPECT for the assessment of left ventricular function in small hearts: the cardiac physical phantom study using a combined SPECT/CT system

The aim of this study was to compare results of left ventricular (LV) function obtained by quantitative gated single-photon emission tomography (QGS) and multidetector-row spiral computed tomography (MDCT) with reference parameters using an electrocardiogram-gated cardiac physical phantom. The phantom study was performed using a combined SPECT/CT system. Flexible membranes formed the inner and outer walls of the simulated LV. The stroke volume was adjusted (45 mL or 58 mL) and the fixed 42-mL end-systolic volume (ESV) produced two different volume combinations. The LV function parameters were estimated by means of MDCT and QGS. Differences in true and measured volumes were compared among CT with a reconstructed image thickness of 2.5 mm and 5.0 mm and QGS volumetric values. Each scan was repeated three-times. The estimation of LV volumes using both QGS and MDCT analyses were reproducible very well. QGS overestimated ejection fraction (EF) by approximately 20%; MDCT volumetry overestimated EF by approximately 5% in each volume setting. The differences in true and measured values for EF and ESV obtained with QGS were significantly greater than obtained with MDCT. Conclusion: MDCT provides a reliable estimation of functional LV parameters, whereas QGS tends to significantly overestimate the EF in small hearts.     

腺苷负荷99mTc-MIBI心肌SPECT/CT显像诊断冠心病及检测存活心肌的研究

 目的 评价国产腺苷负荷心肌灌注断层显像对心肌缺血的诊断及腺苷试验的安全性.方法 60例临床疑似冠心病的患者行腺苷负荷99mTc-MIBI(甲氧基异丁基异腈)心肌灌注断层显像,其中40例行冠脉造影检查.腺苷按0.84 mg/kg通过输液泵静脉双通路给药,对心肌灌注显像图作定性分析.结果 60例患者行冠脉造影者40例,其中正常8例,1支以上狭窄≥50%者32例,其中病变为单支11例,双支14例,3支7例.60例行腺苷负荷心肌灌注显像检查总阳性率为80%(48/60).腺苷试验不良反应轻时间短,发生率为80%(48/60).结论 腺苷负荷心肌灌注显像安全可靠.