title: Role of PET and SPECT in the study of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
abstract: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis has been defined as a "heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative syndromes characterized by progressive muscle paralysis caused by the degeneration of motor neurons allocated in primary motor cortex, brainstem, and spinal cord." A comprehensive diagnostic workup for ALS usually includes several electrodiagnostic, clinical laboratory and genetic tests. Neuroimaging exams, such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and spinal cord myelogram, may also be required. Nuclear medicine, with PET and SPECT, may also play a role in the evaluation of patients with ALS, and provide additional information to the clinicians. This paper aims to offer to the reader a comprehensive review of the different radiotracers for the assessment of the metabolism of glucose (FDG), the measurement of cerebral blood flow (CBF), or the evaluation of neurotransmitters, astrocytes, and microglia by means of newer and not yet clinically diffuse radiopharmaceuticals.
authors.affiliation: Positron Emission Tomography Centre IRMET S.p.A., Euromedic Inc., V. O. Vigliani 89/A, 10136 Turin, Italy ; PET Pediatric AIMN InterGroup, V. O. Vigliani 89/A, 10136 Turin, Italy ; Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council, Piazzale Aldo Moro 7, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelina
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8024-8425
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cistaro
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Internistic "F. Magrassi, A. Lanzara", Seconda Università di Napoli, Vico Luigi de Crecchio 16, 80138 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cuccurullo
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and of Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Natale
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9845-1384
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Quartuccio
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Solnavägen 1, Solna, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden ; Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council, Piazzale Aldo Moro 7, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pagani
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, San Giovanni Battista-OIRM-S.Anna-CTO Hospital, Via Cherasco 15, 10126 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Consuelo
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Valentini
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Internistic "F. Magrassi, A. Lanzara", Seconda Università di Napoli, Vico Luigi de Crecchio 16, 80138 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mansi
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D057054:Molecular Imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
chemical_list: D005947:Glucose