Patterns of Single Photon Emission Tomography (SPECT) among Patients with Dementia in the Memory Clinic at Siriraj Hospital
Arpas Nako MD*, Sasitorn Siritho MD*, Wattanachai Chotinaiwattarakul MD*, Vacharin Ratanamart MD**, Suthipol Udompunthuruk MSc***, Piyanuj Jamjumrus BSc*, Vorapun Senanarong MD, FRCP*
Affiliation : * Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University ** Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University *** Institution of Research Development, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
Objective : The authors hypothesized that there is a pattern difference in cerebral perfusion of the 99-Technitium
L, L-ethyl cysteinate dimer Single Photon Emission Computer Tomography (99-Tc ECD SPECT) between mild
and moderate to severe dementia.
Materials and Methods : The authors reported a retrospective study in the Memory Clinic, Siriraj Hospital
between January 2001 and October 2003 including only patients with Alzheimer’s disease, vascular demen-
tia, and mixed dementia. Clinical dementia rating (CDR) was used to document dementia severity. Patterns of
hypoperfusion were classified into no definite hypoperfusion, regional hypoperfusion, and diffused
hypoperfusion.
Results : One hundred and seven patients were included in the present study. Only mean Thai Mental State
Examination (TMSE) score was different between the two groups. There was no significant correlation between
pattern of hypoperfusion in brain SPECT and severity of dementia.
Conclusion : The authors cannot demonstrate the pattern of hypoperfusion of 99-Tc ECD SPECT among
patients’ difference in dementia severity.
Keywords : SPECT, Dementia, Thai
