[Usefulness of positron emission tomography to STA-MCA anastomosis for the case with cerebral infarction]

The ischemic area surrounding the cerebral infarction in the eloquent area was salvaged by STA-MCA bypass surgery. Both the misery perfusion area evaluated by positron emission tomography (PET) using the [15O] gas inhalation steady-state method and clinical symptoms improved within a year after surgery. To confirm the ischemic area and select the suitable recipient artery was important for successful bypass surgery, because only an artery covering the ischemic area is expected to have low resistance. In this case a large ischemic area with disturbed, vasodilatation by Diamox was detected on the SPECT. However, PET clearly exposed the localized misery perfusion area in the overestimated ischemic area by SPECT. We describe our experience and discuss the technique and efficacy of PET for STA-MCA anastomosis surgery.