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A total of 24 patients with a mean age of 45.8 +/- 20.8 were included in the study. The patients were grouped as Control (C), Degenerative Syndromes (DS), Degeneration Associated with External Factors (DEF), Degeneration Associated with Focal Neurologic Lesion (DFN) and Demyelinating Disease (DM). Imaging started 15 minutes for early and 4 hours for delayed scans after i.v. infusion of I-123 IMP. The rCBF was calculated by the IMP autoradiographic (ARG) method. The wash-out ratio (WR) was calculated as the ratio of the Delay/Early count. In the rCBF of the various areas of the brain, significant differences were noted between various disease groups. No correlation was noted between rCBF and WR (r = -0.50). The WR of patients grouped according to various disease processes did not show a significant difference between various areas of the brain. In conclusion, the rCBF was effective in separating both various areas of the brain and disease entities. WR from a delayed study is less useful in neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We determined the effect of retention on the changes in regional biodistribution of Tc-99m ECD in the brain. A total of 14 cases, 7 normal volunteers and 7 patients with various diagnoses but with very minimal radiologic findings or none were included in the study. SPECT images were taken at 30 min, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 hrs after an intravenous injection. Retention rates were calculated in various regions and were corrected according to the time decay of technetium. There was a tendency for the retention rate to increase up to three hours of imaging and then a decrease was noted in most regions of the brain. In the thalamus, increasing retention was noted. In conclusion, Tc-99m ECD retention in the different regions of the brain varies with time. These differences should always be considered when planning and interpreting SPECT quantitative studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the influence of diabetic myocardial damage (suspected myocardial damage; SMD) diagnosed by201T1-SPECT and diabetic cardiac autonomic neuropathy (AN) on myocardial MIBG uptake in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Eighty-seven diabetic patients divided into four subgroups: 23 with SMD (+) AN (+); 19 with SMD (+) AN (−); 27 with SMD (−) AN (+); 18 with SMD (−) AN (−), and 10 controls were studied. Both planar and SPECT images were taken at 30 minutes (early) and 3 hours (delayed) after123I-MIBG injection. The heart to mediastinum uptake ratio (H/M) and washout ratio of123I-MIBG (WR) were obtained from both planar images. On SPECT images, the total uptake score (TUS) was obtained by the 5 point score method by dividing the myocardium into 20 segments on visual analysis. Similarly, the difference between the201Tl image and the123I-MIBG image in TUS was taken as the difference in the total uptake score (ΔTUS) representing cardiac sympathetic denervation without SMD. On both early and delayed planar images, the mean H/M value in the subgroups of diabetic patients was significantly lower in the SMD (+) AN (+) group than in the control group, but among those subgroups, there was statistically significant difference between the SMD (+) AN (+) and SMD (−) AN (−) groups only on the delayed images. Regarding the WR value, there was no statistically significant difference among subjects. On SPECT image analysis, the diabetic sub-group with AN or SMD had statistically significant lower values for TUS than those of the control group. Among diabetics, there was a statistically significant differences between SMD [+] AN [+] and SMD [−] AN [−] on both early and delayed images. Similarly, the SMD [+] AN [−] group also had significantly lower values than those of SMD [−] AN [−] on early images. Regarding ΔTUS, there was a statistically significant differences between AN [+] subgroups and controls. Similarly, the mean value for ΔTUS was much higher in AN [+] subgroups than in AN [−] subgroups with or without SMD in diabetes mellitus. 123I-MIBG myocardial uptake is affected by both SMD and cardiac autonomie neuropathy. Based on the finding that ΔTUS was much higher in AN [+] subgroups and there was no statistically significant difference between SMD [+] AN [+] and SMD [−] AN [+] subgroups, a decrease in myocardial123I-MIBG uptake might progress independently of SMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The case of a 77-year-old male patient who complained of left upper quadrant pain and progressive vomiting. Laboratory examination showed extremely high lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) and adult T-cell leukemia antibody (ATLA). The anatomical studies CT, MRI, US and upper GI series substantiated an omental lymphadenopathy which was causing a circumferential compression of portions of the duodenum and jejunum. Gallium-67 citrate (Ga-67) scintigraphy showed high uptake at LUQ. Ultrasound guided biopsy failed to confirm the diagnosis. Irradiation was performed. Ga-67 scintigraphy had a contributory role in clinical subtyping of the disease, planning of treatment, posttreatment assessment and prognostication of adult T-cell lymphoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early and delayed single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using N-isopropyl-p-(I)iodoamphetamine (IMP) was performed on 28 subjects (2 normal, 12 with cerebrovascular diseases and 14 with brain tumors) to evaluate the reversibility of the cerebral abnormality and cerebral viability. The results were compared with X-ray CT, Tc brain scintigraphy and rCBF by Xe inhalation method. Three types of IMP kinetics were observed. Initial hypoactivity that changed over 4 to 6 hours approaching a normal pattern suggests a hypofunctional parenchyma without significant tissue damage: long-lasting abnormalities on IMP SPECT indicates cellular damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]