To assess the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in ischemic stroke, we analyzed the findings of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using technetium-99m hexamethyl propyleneamine oxime (Tc-99m HMPAO). The SPECT images revealed abnormal areas of decreased perfusion in 29 out of 31 subjects (93.5%), which represented a higher detection rate than those for CT and MR (89.5%, respectively). Also, the areas of decreased perfusion were frequently larger than the lesions on CT and MR. Areas of decreased perfusion remote from the CT/MR lesions were found in 10 patients, including 8 with crossed cerebellar diaschisis (CCD). Thus, studies of rCBF by Tc-99m HMPAO SPECT can be useful in the assessment of ischemic stroke.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Brain Ischemia/*physiopathology/radiography/radionuclide imaging ; Cerebrovascular Circulation/*physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Regional Blood Flow ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed