Functional brain imaging

Abstract

Neuronuclear imaging with SPECT and PET enables non-invasive evaluation and quantification of local tissue functions like regional cerebral blood flow, metabolism, receptor binding status and neurotransmission processes. SPECT and PET imaging therefore, is rapidly finding a place in routine diagnostic work up and management of a host of neurological and psychiatric disorders like epilepsy, neurodegenerative disorders, cereberovascular disease , movement disorders, malignant brain tumors, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, depression, panic disorder, and drug abuse. Potential of PET in radiotherapy treatment planning, neuropharmacology, and drug development also holds a lot of promise.