Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in neurocysticercosis
Rev. med. nucl. Alasbimn j
; 4(15)abr. 2002. ilus
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-313224
Responsible library:
CL1.1
RESUMO
Neurocysticercosis (NC) is a parasitic infectious disease caused by Taenia solium eggs that set in the brain. Its incidence is increasing both in the developing and the developed world, as a result of low economical and hygiene levels and immigration, respectively. Clinical manifestation of disease varies from no symptoms to epilepsy, increased intra-cranial pressure, arachnoiditis and dementia. In order to evaluate function (perfusion) of affected brains, we studied 40 patients (21 females and 19 males, 19-71 yo) by means of SPECT (ECD, ethyl cysteinate dimer, labelled with 99mTc) and with and without contrast CT. SPECT studies were all abnormal. No difference was noted between active and inactive disease. Two SPECT patterns were noted a) several areas of focally reduced uptake, resulting from coalescent and big lesions and large destruction of brain tissue (small, isolated and symmetric cysts seen in CT were missed by SPECT); b) diffuse atrophy with reduction of the tracer uptake, associated with ventricle dilatation, corresponding to the cases where ventricular NC was important. Interestingly, we noted diffuse hypoperfusion, with the scintigraphic pattern of atrophy in 5 cases of massive parenchymal infection; in such cases, CT signs of atrophy were clearly less prominent. The first scintigraphic aspect can be explained by the destruction of large areas of brain, which produces focal absence of perfusion; generalised vasculitis and the destruction of large portions of brain tissue could explain the difference noted between the SPECT and the CT aspects in the 5 cases of massive parenchimal infection, and this may be interesting for prognosis. Dilatation of ventricles and Sylvian fissures were interestingly prominent in SPECT. SPECT may be of great value to evaluate brain perfusion in NC
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Health context:
SDG3 - Health and Well-Being
/
Neglected Diseases
/
SDG3 - Target 3.3 End transmission of communicable diseases
Health problem:
Target 3.3: End transmission of communicable diseases
/
Helminthiasis
/
Neglected Diseases
/
Zoonoses
/
Meningitis
Database:
LILACS
Main subject:
Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
/
Neurocysticercosis
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Rev. med. nucl. Alasbimn j
Journal subject:
Nuclear Medicine
Year:
2002
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Belgium
/
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
CORA/BR
/
Universidade Estadual Paulista/BR
/
Universidade de Säo Paulo/BR