COMPARISON OF SINGLE-PHOTON EMISSION COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY FINDINGS IN CASES OF HEALTHY-ADULTS AND SOLVENT-EXPOSED ADULTS

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a useful tool in measuring dynamic brain functioning. Its potential to reveal the phys iological mechanisms of neurotoxicity has not been fully explored. In the present study the SPECT findings for 25 healthy control subjects w ere compared to the findings for 25 mired organic solvent exposure sub jects. Specific physiological abnormalities related to regional cerebr al blood flow activity (rCBF) were revealed. In the early phase of upt ake, significantly decreased uptake was found in the mixed organic sol vent group; in the late phase of uptake, a significant increase in upt ake was found in specific regions of interest. The discovery of this a bnormality in brain functioning may be a significant step toward the c reation of a biological marker of neurotoxicity. Early detection of ne urotoxicity is important in occupational medicine to prevent neurotoxi c illnesses in working populations. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.