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Early Dynamic SPECT Imaging in Acute Viral Encephalitis
Author(s) -
Kataoka Hiroshi,
Inoue Makoto,
Shinkai Takayuki,
Ueno Satoshi
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of neuroimaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1552-6569
pISSN - 1051-2284
DOI - 10.1111/j.1552-6569.2007.00154.x
Subject(s) - medicine , temporal lobe , magnetic resonance imaging , viral encephalitis , nuclear medicine , single photon emission computed tomography , putamen , radiology , encephalitis , epilepsy , virus , virology , psychiatry
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Several cases have reported that dynamic single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) shows increased tracer uptake in acute herpes simplex viral encephalitis (HSVE). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of dynamic Tc‐ECD SPECT in patients with acute viral encephalitis.METHOD We performed the dynamic SPECT in 9 patients with acute viral encephalitis (4 women, 5 men, 49.5 ± 17.4 years of age at onset). SPECT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed within 2 weeks after acute clinical onset and at the time of resolution of acute symptoms.RESULTS Cranial MRI showed high intensities in all patients (7 medial temporal and 2 lateral temporal lobes, 1 inferior temporal lobe, 2 insula and adjacent regions, 1 thalamus, 1 putamen). The initial dynamic SPECT showed increased accumulation of tracer, corresponding to the lesions on MRI in 3 patients with HSVE. Resolution of acute symptoms was associated with a reduction in increased tracer uptake. Six patients with non‐HSVE showed no increased accumulation of tracer.CONCLUSIONS Dynamic SPECT may be a new optional neuroradiologic technique that may help to establish a diagnosis in patients with suspected HSVE.