Single Photon Emission CT (SPECT) with 99mTc-HMPAO for Measurement of Regional Cerebral Blood Flow in Patients with Ischemic Stroke

Hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (HMPAO) is a new tracer for the measurement and imaging of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). It is labeled with 99mTc and therefore easily available. HMPAO is lipid soluble and thus crosses the blood-brain barrier mainly during its first passage. Within the cerebral tissue the molecule is split up and becomes water soluble; rediffusion of the blood-brain barrier is not then possible (3). Single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) is suitable for transforming the information in slices comparable to transmission CT (TCT). We have used 99mTc HMPAO in 28 patients with ischemic strokes and below report our first results with this method.