title: Early dynamic SPECT imaging in acute viral encephalitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several cases have reported that dynamic single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) shows increased tracer uptake in acute herpes simplex viral encephalitis (HSVE). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of dynamic Tc-ECD SPECT in patients with acute viral encephalitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed the dynamic SPECT in 9 patients with acute viral encephalitis (4 women, 5 men, 49.5 +/- 17.4 years of age at onset). SPECT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed within 2 weeks after acute clinical onset and at the time of resolution of acute symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cranial MRI showed high intensities in all patients (7 medial temporal and 2 lateral temporal lobes, 1 inferior temporal lobe, 2 insula and adjacent regions, 1 thalamus, 1 putamen). The initial dynamic SPECT showed increased accumulation of tracer, corresponding to the lesions on MRI in 3 patients with HSVE. Resolution of acute symptoms was associated with a reduction in increased tracer uptake. Six patients with non-HSVE showed no increased accumulation of tracer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dynamic SPECT may be a new optional neuroradiologic technique that may help to establish a diagnosis in patients with suspected HSVE.
authors: Department of Neurology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, Japan. hk55@naramed-u.ac.jp
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Kataoka
authors: Makoto
authors: M
authors: Inoue
authors: Takayuki
authors: T
authors: Shinkai
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Ueno
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003545:Cysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D020803:Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
chemical_list: D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C059659:technetium Tc 99m bicisate; D003545:Cysteine