Assessment of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in ischemic stroke using Tc-99m HMPAO SPECT--comparison with CT and MR findings.

Abstract

To assess the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in ischemic stroke, we analyzed the findings of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using technetium-99m hexamethyl propyleneamine oxime (Tc-99m HMPAO). The SPECT images revealed abnormal areas of decreased perfusion in 29 out of 31 subjects (93.5%), which represented a higher detection rate than those for CT and MR (89.5%, respectively). Also, the areas of decreased perfusion were frequently larger than the lesions on CT and MR. Areas of decreased perfusion remote from the CT/MR lesions were found in 10 patients, including 8 with crossed cerebellar diaschisis (CCD). Thus, studies of rCBF by Tc-99m HMPAO SPECT can be useful in the assessment of ischemic stroke.