UTILITY OF I-123 IMP SPECT BRAIN-SCANS FOR THE EARLY DETECTION OF SITE-SPECIFIC ABNORMALITIES IN CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB-DISEASE (HEIDENHAIN TYPE) - A CASE-STUDY

Serial changes in brain imaging of regional cerebral blood flow with s ingle photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using N-isopropyl-(i odine-12 3) p-iodoamphetamine (I-123-IMP) were observed in a patient w ith probable Heidenhain type of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which was c haracterized by the initial onset of visual symptoms. Corresponding to the visual signs and periodic synchronous discharges localized in the bilateral parietal and occipital regions on EEG, focal hypoperfusion images in the occipital lobes were detected on the SPECT scan before b rain X-ray computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a ny abnormalities. These results suggest that SPECT brain imaging is us eful in the early detection of site-specific abnormalities in Creutzfe ldt-Jakob disease.