Assessment of beta-amyloid in a frontal cortical brain biopsy specimen and by positron emission tomography with carbon 11-labeled Pittsburgh Compound B.
OBJECTIVE
To compare carbon 11-labeled Pittsburgh Compound B ([11C]PiB) positron emission tomography (PET) findings in patients with and without Alzheimer disease lesions in frontal cortical biopsy specimens.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of [11C]PiB PET findings in patients with or without beta-amyloid (Abeta) aggregates in frontal cortical biopsy specimens.


METHODS
Two university hospitals in Finland. Patients Ten patients who had undergone intraventricular pressure monitoring with a frontal cortical biopsy (evaluated for Abeta aggregates and hyperphosphorylated tau) for suspected normal-pressure hydrocephalus.


METHODS
[11C]PiB PET and evaluation for cognitive impairment using a battery of neuropsychological tests.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical evaluation for Abeta aggregates and hyperphosphorylated tau in the frontal cortical biopsy specimen and [11C]PiB PET.


RESULTS
In patients with Abeta aggregates in the frontal cortical biopsy specimen, PET imaging revealed higher [11C]PiB uptake (P < .05) in the frontal, parietal, and lateral temporal cortices and in the striatum as compared with the patients without frontal Abeta deposits.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study supports the use of noninvasive [11C]PiB PET in the assessment of Abeta deposition in the brain. Large prospective studies are required to verify whether [11C]PiB PET will be a diagnostic aid, particularly in early Alzheimer disease.
Leinonen
Ville
V
Department of Neurosurgery, Kuopio University Hospital, PO Box 1777, 70211 Kuopio, Finland. ville.leinonen@kuh.fi
Alafuzoff
Irina
I
Aalto
Sargo
S
Suotunen
Timo
T
Savolainen
Sakari
S
Någren
Kjell
K
Tapiola
Tero
T
Pirttilä
Tuula
T
Rinne
Jaakko
J
Jääskeläinen
Juha E
JE
Soininen
Hilkka
H
Rinne
Juha O
JO
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D001706:Biopsy; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018450:Disease Progression; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006850:Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D016874:Neurofibrillary Tangles / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D058225:Plaque, Amyloid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013844:Thiazoles; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
C475519:2-(4'-(methylamino)phenyl)-6-hydroxybenzothiazole; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D013844:Thiazoles; D016875:tau Proteins