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IMAGE INTERPRETATION · BRAIN IMAGING

Alzheimer’s Disease on Brain Perfusion SPECT

Brain perfusion SPECT — transaxial, coronal, sagittal, and temporal slices showing regional cerebral blood flow pattern in dementia
Brain perfusion SPECT — transaxial, coronal, sagittal, and temporal slices showing regional cerebral blood flow pattern in dementia

Provided clinical image

Question

Brain perfusion SPECT is used to evaluate regional cerebral blood flow. In a patient with dementia, Alzheimer's disease classically produces which perfusion pattern?

  1. AFrontal and anterior temporal hypoperfusion
  2. BUnilateral frontal and basal ganglia hypoperfusion
  3. CBilateral parietal and posterior temporal hypoperfusion
  4. DDiffuse symmetric cortical hypoperfusion
Show the answer and explanation

C. Bilateral parietal and posterior temporal hypoperfusion

Alzheimer's disease characteristically produces bilateral parietal and posterior temporal hypoperfusion (decreased uptake) on brain perfusion SPECT and FDG-PET. This reflects the pattern of early neurodegeneration in AD (posterior cortex, precuneus, posterior cingulate). Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) shows frontal and anterior temporal hypoperfusion. Unilateral basal ganglia abnormalities suggest vascular disease. Diffuse symmetric hypoperfusion may be seen in medication effects.

More brain imaging images

DaTSCAN (I-123 ioflupane) SPECT — normal striatal uptakeParkinson’s Disease on DaTscan: Loss of the Comma Shape Brain perfusion SPECT — frontal lobe hypoperfusion patternFrontotemporal Dementia on Brain Perfusion SPECT Brain scan statics at 5, 10, and 20 minutes showing absence of cerebral perfusion — only scalp/skull activity visibleBrain Death Scan: Absent Cerebral Perfusion Brain perfusion SPECT — comparison of ictal and interictal statesIctal SPECT: Hyperperfusion at the Seizure Focus I-123 DaTSCAN SPECT (transverse slices) showing asymmetrically reduced striatal dopamine transporter uptakeDementia with Lewy Bodies on DaTscan Brain FDG-PET — hypometabolism pattern in Alzheimer's diseaseAlzheimer’s Disease on FDG PET
← Normal Brain Perfusion SPECT with Tc-99m HMPAOParkinson’s Disease on DaTscan: Loss of the Comma Shape →

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