title: rCBF abnormalities detected, and sequentially followed, by SPECT in neuro-Behçet's syndrome with normal CT and MRI imaging.
abstract: Conventional imaging with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may show abnormalities in central nervous system Behcet's syndrome but is normal in some cases. Recently in two cases positron emission tomography has shown abnormalities in blood flow and glucose metabolism far more extensive than the abnormalities seen on CT and MRI scans in the same patients. We report a patient with neuro-Behcet's syndrome presenting with headache and personality change in whom CT and MRI brain imaging was normal, but regional cerebral blood flow imaging using single photon emission tomography with the tracer HMPAO showed extensive perfusion deficits which partially reversed after 3 months of prednisolone therapy. This technique may aid the diagnosis of cerebral involvement in Behcet's syndrome, although the cause and incidence of the perfusion deficits need further evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Middlesex Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Markus
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Bunker
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kouris
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010091:Oximes; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010091:Oximes; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime; D011239:Prednisolone; D005947:Glucose