Implication of Ventricular Asymmetry Analyzed by Neuropsychological Test and Tc-99m ECD SPECT in Patients with Frontotemporal Dementia.
- Author:
Tae Hak KIM
1
;
Byeong Chae KIM
;
Seong Min CHOI
;
Joon Tae KIM
;
Seung Han LEE
;
Man Seok PARK
;
Ho Chun SONG
;
Myeong Kyu KIM
;
Ki Hyun CHO
Author Information
1. Department of Neurology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. movement@chonnam.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Frontotemporal dementia;
Statistical parametric mapping;
Ventricular asymmetry
- MeSH:
Atrophy;
Brain;
Cysteine;
Frontotemporal Dementia;
Humans;
Lateral Ventricles;
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy;
Neuropsychological Tests;
Organotechnetium Compounds;
Perfusion;
Regional Blood Flow;
Retrospective Studies;
Temporal Lobe;
Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
- From:Journal of the Korean Neurological Association
2008;26(1):1-7
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) has a characteristic pattern of lobar atrophy in frontal and/or temporal lobes. Asymmetry in the lateral ventricle size on brain magnetic resonance image (MRI) in FTD patients may have clinical significance. This study compares the ventricular asymmetry seen on MRI with that of the neuropsychological difference and asymmetric hypoperfusion using statistical parametric mapping (SPM) analysis of brain SPECT in patients with FTD. METHODS: Thirteen FTD patients who underwent Brain MRI, TC-99m ECD SPECT and neuropsychological testing and who had the ventricular asymmetry on brain MRI were retrospectively selected. The patients were divided into two groups (5 right dominant group, 8 left dominant group) according to the ventricular asymmetry on brain MRI. We compared the regional blood flow pattern on TC-99m ECD SPECT images using SPM analysis and the results of neuropsychological tests between the two groups. RESULTS: In the right dominant group, a significant perfusion deficit was identified at the bilateral frontal regions. In the left dominant group, significant hypoperfusion was found at the left frontotemporal regions (uncorrected p<0.001). There was no significant difference of neuropsychological testing in between the two groups. However, the score on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) in the right dominant group was higher than that of the left dominant group (p=0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Hemispheric asymmetry on brain MRI was common in patients with FTD and was related with a characteristic pattern of hypoperfusion on brain SPECT images and neuropsychiatric symptoms.
