title: The role of scintigraphy in confirmation of suspected brain death.
abstract: We present a case illustrating how cerebral perfusion scintigraphy can be used to assist in crucial medical decision making in the intensive care setting for patients who are maintained on life support but are clinically suspected to have brain death. Cerebral perfusion scintigraphy can confirm brain death but cannot be used to diagnose it. (99m)Tc-HMPAO and (99m)Tc-ethylcysteinate dimer are the preferred imaging agents since they cross the blood-brain barrier.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Molecular Imaging, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine and Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, Michigan.
authors.forename: Prashant
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jolepalem
authors.forename: Helena R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Balon
mesh_terms: D001926:Brain Death / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008020:Life Support Care; D055420:Perfusion Imaging
keywords: SPECT; brain death; cerebral perfusion scintigraphy; neurology; pediatrics