CEREBRAL PERFUSION STUDIES DURING MATURATION USING SINGLE-PHOTON EMISSION COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY IN THE NEONATAL-PERIOD

In this study, we used single photon emission computed tomography (SPE CT) radiolabelled Tc-99m HMPAO to assess cerebral perfusion during mat uration in the neonatal period. Results of SPECT examinations in 18 ne wborn infants, in whom gestational age ranged form 30 to 41 weeks, and who were found to be neurologically normal in retrospect, were review ed. The developmental changes in cerebral perfusion during the neonata l period shown by SPECT parallel findings of other methods on maturati onal changes of the central nervous system (neuropathological studies, positron emission tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging). Cereb ral perfusion progresses from the central part of the brain to the cer ebellum, sensorimotor and then visual cortex. A close relation seems t o exist between cerebral perfusion, metabolism and behavior under norm al conditions in the neonatal period.