A SPECT IMAGING STUDY OF MRI WHITE-MATTER HYPERINTENSITY IN PATIENTS WITH DEGENERATIVE DEMENTIA

We investigated the correlation between cortical perfusion and white m atter hyperintensities on magnetic resonance images (MRI) of patients with dementia. The study included 40 subjects, each of whom had underg one both MRI and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) st udies as part of their diagnostic evaluation for degenerative dementia , Two neuroradiologists rated the MRI films for severity of periventri cular white matter changes on a 0-5 point scale and severity of subcor tical white matter changes on a 0-4 point scale. Twelve regions of int erest from association cortex were sampled for the semiquantitative an alysis of SPECT images. No relationship was found between these global MRI ratings and semiquantitative or qualitative SPECT findings, Demen tia severity as measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Clinical Dementia Rating was significantly correlated with SPECT, wher eas age was significantly correlated with MRI ratings, particularly in the periventricular regions. These data support the view that cortica l SPECT abnormalities are not associated with global MRI abnormalities in the subcortical and periventricular regions of patients with a cli nical picture of degenerative dementia.