The application of multimodal molecular imaging in the diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the value of multimodal molecular imaging in the diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Methods Five patients with probable DLB received detailed clinical data collection, neuropsychological tests, head MRI examination, 11C-methyl-N-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-fluorophenyl)-tropane (11C-β-CFT) PET, 11C-Pittsburgh compound B (11C-PIB) PET and 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18F-FDG) PET examination. Results Cognitive dysfunction and visual hallucinations were prominent symptoms in patients with DLB. 11C-β-CFT PET showed that the radioactive uptake significantly reduced in bilateral putamen and caudate nuclei. 11C-PIB PET showed increased radioactive retention in bilateral frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital cortex with various degrees. 18F-FDG PET showed glucose hypometabolism in bilateral parietal and occipital cortex. Conclusions Multimodal molecular imaging greatly improves the specificity of clinical diagnosis of DLB, and it is expected to achieve accurate diagnosis before death. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2017.01.009

Keywords

• Lewy body disease
• Dementia
• Positron-emission tomography