Temporal lobe perfusion asymmetries in schizophrenia.
Structural and functional neuroimaging techniques have consistently demonstrated that abnormal lateralization of temporal lobes may be important in identifying the pathophysiologic processes in schizophrenia. The exact nature of these reported abnormalities has not been consistent.


METHODS
We examined temporal lobe perfusion using HMPAO-SPECT in 22 individuals with schizophrenia in an effort to establish whether temporal lobe perfusion asymmetry is seen in these individuals, as compared to a group of 22 age- and sex-matched controls.


RESULTS
We found that the asymmetry index, a measure of perfusion differences between two homologous compared areas, was lower (more negative) in schizophrenic individuals. The asymmetry indices of patients considered with the results from globally corrected ROI means indicated that the left temporal lobes of individuals with schizophrenia were significantly hypoperfused when compared to controls. This finding does not appear to be caused by medication effects, demographic variables, handedness, imaging artifacts or analysis techniques.


CONCLUSIONS
In our sample, patients with schizophrenia appear to have significant left hypoperfusion relative to right of their temporal lobes. Abnormal lateralization of temporal lobe blood flow may have important clinical implications by assisting with diagnosis and appropriate treatment for individuals with schizophrenia.
Russell
J M
JM
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-0428, USA.
Early
T S
TS
Patterson
J C
JC
Martin
J L
JL
Villanueva-Meyer
J
J
McGee
M D
MD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010091:Oximes; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010091:Oximes; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime