title: Two sequential Tc-99m ECD SPECT studies in a case of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease confirmed at autopsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a subacute spongiform encephalopathy characterized by rapidly progressive dementia, hard to diagnose during life.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a case of a patient with pathologically confirmed sporadic form of CJD in whom initial diagnostic tests were negative. Two sequential brain single-photon emission computed tomography with Tc-99m ethyl-cysteinate dimer were performed, the first one was performed few days after the admission into hospital and the second, 1 month later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both studies revealed a decrease in regional cerebral blood flow indicative of neuronal dysfunction, more pronounced in the second study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current radionuclide scintigraphy can be an useful tool for the investigation of CJD.
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine Department, Brescia Hospital, University of Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili 1, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Paghera
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caobelli
authors.forename: Lutfun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nisa
authors.forename: Erinda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Puta
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Borroni
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Premi
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Padovani
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giubbini
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D007562:Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003545:Cysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D013997:Time Factors; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
chemical_list: D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; C059659:technetium Tc 99m bicisate; D003545:Cysteine