title: Cerebral perfusion deficits in divers with neurological decompression illness.
abstract: Cerebral perfusion deficits detected by injection of 99Tcm-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (HMPAO) and single photon emission tomography is said to correlate well with clinical findings in divers with neurological decompression illness. We studied 12 divers. Six had residual cerebral signs (group 1) and six had no residual cerebral symptoms or signs (group 2). Perfusion deficits were as common in group 2 as in group 1. The site of the deficit did not correlate well with either the neurological findings at presentation or the residual clinical signs after treatment. The data suggest that claims that HMPAO scanning correlates with clinical findings and can be used for patients management were incorrect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Wilmshurst
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: O'Doherty
authors.forename: T O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Nunan
mesh_terms: D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000209:etiology*; D004242:Diving / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010091:Oximes; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime
chemical_list: D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010091:Oximes; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime