Lateralization on neuroimaging does not differentiate frontotemporal lobar degeneration from Alzheimer's disease

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2004;17(4):324-7. doi: 10.1159/000077164.

Abstract

Lateralization on neuroimaging was compared in cases of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD; n = 10) and cases of definite Alzheimer's disease (AD; n = 17). All of the cases were pathologically confirmed and semi-quantitative and statistical parametric mapping methods were employed. Seven of the 10 FTLD cases had lateralization on at least one neuroimaging modality: single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT), MRI, or CT. All 6/6 FTLD cases with SPECT showed lateralization. MRI results generally agreed with SPECT findings. Three of 4 FTLD cases had lateralized atrophy on CT. For the AD cases, 10/17 SPECTs, 2/7 MRIs, and 1/9 CTs showed lateralized findings. Of the neuroimaging modalities utilized, SPECT was the most sensitive in detecting lateralization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / diagnosis*
  • Alzheimer Disease / physiopathology
  • Alzheimer Disease / psychology*
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation
  • Dementia / diagnosis*
  • Dementia / physiopathology
  • Dementia / psychology*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Dominance, Cerebral*
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime