Anomalous PiB enhancement in the superior sagittal and transverse venous sinuses

Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2012 Apr-Jun;26(2):186-90. doi: 10.1097/WAD.0b013e31822de18c.

Abstract

Pittsburgh compound-B (PiB), an amyloid-binding positron emission tomography (PET) tracer, is widely used for imaging amyloid-β in those with and at risk for Alzheimer disease. Here, we report on an otherwise normal 68-year-old female with abnormally high and very focal PiB retention. Coregistered T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and dynamic 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) images confirmed that the focal PiB enhancement was in the superior sagittal and transverse sinuses, outside of the adjacent cortex. Flow through the venous vasculature was normal as assessed by dynamic FDG PET imaging. These features supported the conclusion that PiB retention was not simply due to a hemodynamic abnormality, but may have represented PiB binding to fibrillar deposits of a β-sheet protein (ie, amyloid), whose nature is currently unclear.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alzheimer Disease / diagnostic imaging*
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology
  • Amyloid / metabolism*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / chemistry
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism
  • Aniline Compounds*
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging*
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Thiazoles*

Substances

  • 2-(4'-(methylamino)phenyl)-6-hydroxybenzothiazole
  • Amyloid
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Aniline Compounds
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Thiazoles