title: A clinical perspective on SPECT.
abstract: The potential clinical utility of SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) brain imaging to clarifying certain diagnostic dilemmas faced by clinical psychiatrists is considered generally and is illustrated by several case vignettes. Three case histories consider dementia vs depressive pseudodementia, two the possibility of a cerebral vasculitis in patients with auto-immune conditions, and two whether the patient had a "type" of depression likely to benefit from a course of ECT. Published studies reviewing the utility of SPECT in dementia, depression, depressive "pseudodementia" and cerebral lupus are considered. It is suggested that SPECT is an important investigatory technique providing additional information that may assist some diagnostic decisions, while its utility in assisting other clinical decisions awaits clarification.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Austin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003704:Dementia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010091:Oximes; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
chemical_list: D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010091:Oximes; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime