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ALZHERIMER'S DISEASE ON PET
Authored By: Farrokh Dehdashti and O'Neil Lee.
Patient: 55 year old male
History: Short term memory loss and atypical dementia
Image Size:[small][as-submitted]

Fig. 1
Axial FDG-PET: There is moderate to marked hypometabolism of the posterior parietal and occipital lobes. The right parietal and occipital lobes are more severely affected than the left parietal and occipital lobes. Mild hypometabolism is seen in the temporal lobes, right affected more than left.

Fig. 2
Coronal FDG-PET: There is moderate to marked hypometabolism of the posterior parietal and occipital lobes. The right parietal and occipital lobes are more severely affected than the left parietal and occipital lobes. Mild hypometabolism is seen in the temporal lobes, right affected more than left.
Image Size:[small][as-submitted]

Findings: Brain PET: Hypometabolism of posterior parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes, right greater than left.

The patient's brain MRI was normal (images not included with this case).
Diagnosis: Alzheimer's disease
General Discussion: FDG-PET is helpful in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease.  Hypometabolism is seen in the posterior temporal and parietal lobes with sparing of the visual cortex, basal ganglia, thalami, brainstem and cerebellum.  The imaging pattern can be asymmetric or unilateral, especially early in the disease process. 

FDG-PET appearance of dementia with Lowey bodies can be similiar to Alzheimer's disease but often involves the visual cortex. 
References: 1.  Mettler, FA, Milton, JG. Essentials of Nuclear Medicine Imaging, 5th edition. 2006. pp. 391-392.

2.  Herholz K, Carter SF, Jones M. Positron emission tomography imaging in dementia. Br J Radiol. 2007;80 Spec No 2:S160-7
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Additional Details:

Case Number: 206877Owner(s): Farrokh Dehdashti and O'Neil LeeLast Updated: 12-07-2011
Anatomy: Cranium and Contents   Pathology: Other
Modality: MR, PETAccess Level: Readable by all users, writable by NucMed Certifiers
Keywords: alzheimer'sACR: 10000.83000

Case has been viewed 26 times.
Certified by Farrokh Dehdashti on 07-07-2008

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