HM-PAO spect in head trauma

Acta Neurochir Suppl (Wien). 1992:55:11-3. doi: 10.1007/978-3-7091-9233-7_4.

Abstract

Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) after intravenous administration of Technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene-amine oxime (Tc-99m HM-PAO) makes possible the evaluation of cerebral perfusion. We have been assessing the diagnostic accuracy of SPECT in some groups of head trauma patients: the preliminary results of this study are presented. Fourteen patients have been selected, all of them showing some kind of focal neurological deficit; the Computed Tomography (CT) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) were normal, or showed lesions that could not be responsible for the neurological deficits. In all of the patients Tc-99m HM-PAO SPECT has been performed, showing changes in cerebral perfusion in areas correlated with the abnormalities elicited on clinical examination. These results show that Tc-99m HM-PAO SPECT is a better technique than CT or NMR in demonstrating the organic basis of some neurological deficits observed after head trauma.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / physiology*
  • Brain / blood supply*
  • Brain Damage, Chronic / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Damage, Chronic / physiopathology
  • Brain Injuries / diagnostic imaging*
  • Brain Injuries / physiopathology
  • Dominance, Cerebral / physiology
  • Female
  • Glasgow Coma Scale
  • Head Injuries, Closed / diagnostic imaging*
  • Head Injuries, Closed / physiopathology
  • Hemiplegia / diagnostic imaging
  • Hemiplegia / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Organotechnetium Compounds
  • Oximes
  • Regional Blood Flow / physiology
  • Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

Substances

  • Organotechnetium Compounds
  • Oximes
  • Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime