Two sequential Tc-99m ECD SPECT studies in a case of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease confirmed at autopsy

Clin Nucl Med. 2011 Aug;36(8):669-71. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0b013e3182175497.

Abstract

Background: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a subacute spongiform encephalopathy characterized by rapidly progressive dementia, hard to diagnose during life.

Materials and methods: We present a case of a patient with pathologically confirmed sporadic form of CJD in whom initial diagnostic tests were negative. Two sequential brain single-photon emission computed tomography with Tc-99m ethyl-cysteinate dimer were performed, the first one was performed few days after the admission into hospital and the second, 1 month later.

Results: Both studies revealed a decrease in regional cerebral blood flow indicative of neuronal dysfunction, more pronounced in the second study.

Conclusion: Current radionuclide scintigraphy can be an useful tool for the investigation of CJD.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Autopsy
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation
  • Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / diagnostic imaging*
  • Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / pathology*
  • Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Cysteine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Organotechnetium Compounds*
  • Time Factors
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

Substances

  • Organotechnetium Compounds
  • technetium Tc 99m bicisate
  • Cysteine