title: The role of brain single photon emission computed tomography in the diagnosis of primary progressive aphasia.
abstract: We present two cases of primary progressive aphasia studied with neuropsychologic measures, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, and single-photon emission computed tomography with technetium Tc99m-labeled hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime. Clinical and neuropsychologic observations revealed a marked, progressive loss of language functions over time with relative preservation of nonlanguage cognitive functions in both patients. The brain single-photon emission computed tomographic scan revealed marked left frontal and minimal left temporal and parietal hypoperfusion in case 1 and marked left posterior frontal and minimal left temporal hypoperfusion in case 2. The value of brain single-photon emission computed tomography in distinguishing primary progressive aphasia from Alzheimer's disease is described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: McDaniel
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Greenspan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001037:Aphasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed