Open AccessHybrid imaging in dementia: A semi-quantitative (18F)-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging approach in clinical practice
Author(s) -
Ana M. Franceschi,
Kiyon Naser-Tavakolian,
Michael Clifton,
Osama Ahmed,
Katarina Stoffers,
Lev Bangiyev,
Giuseppe Cruciata,
Sean Clouston,
Dinko Franceschi
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
world journal of nuclear medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1607-3312
pISSN - 1450-1147
DOI - 10.4103/wjnm.wjnm_27_20
Subject(s) - medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , dementia , positron emission tomography , frontotemporal lobar degeneration , nuclear medicine , fluorodeoxyglucose , dementia with lewy bodies , corticobasal degeneration , pathology , radiology , frontotemporal dementia , disease
Neurodegenerative disorders may demonstrate typical lobar and regional patterns of volume loss with corresponding decreased glucose metabolism. In this retrospective study, we correlated semi-quantitative volumetric changes utilizing NeuroQuant morphometric analysis with decreased fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake age-matched calculated z -scores utilizing 18 F-FDG positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI). Eighty-nine patients (mean age 71.4) with clinical findings suggestive of various subtypes of dementia underwent PET/MR brain imaging. Cases were categorized as follows: Alzheimer's dementia (AD), frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and corticobasal degeneration (CBD). NeuroQuant software provided semi-quantitative assessment of lobar-specific patterns of volume loss compared to age-matched controls. MIMneuro software provided semi-quantitative FDG uptake data, with metabolic z -scores generated in comparison to age-matched controls. Volumetric and metabolic data were then correlated for statistical significance. In 29 AD cases, Pearson correlation coefficient between z -score and lobar volume was 0.3 ( P = 0.120) and 0.38 ( P < 0.05), for parietal and temporal lobes, respectively. In 34 FTLD cases, it was 0.35 ( P = 0.051) and 0.02 ( P = 0.916), for frontal and temporal lobes, respectively. In 14 DLB cases, it was 0.42 ( P = 0.130), 0.5 ( P = 0.067), and 0.22 ( P = 0.447) for the occipital lobes, middle occipital gyrus, and parietal lobes, respectively. In 12 CBD cases, it was 0.58 ( P < 0.05) for the superior parietal lobule. Semi-quantitative (F18)-FDG PET/MRI analysis demonstrated a positive relationship between volumetric loss and hypometabolism within certain lobar-specific regions, depending on neurodegenerative disorder subtype. Our findings may add diagnostic confidence in the accurate imaging diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease.