TECHNETIUM-TC-99M-HMPAO SPECT IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH NEUROLOGIC DISORDERS

We evaluated regional cerebral blood flow with technetium Tc-99m hexam ethylpropyleneamineoxime single photon emission computed tomography (S PECT) in 20 children and adolescents with neurologic dysfunction of va ried etiology and abnormal electroencephalograms (EEGs). All patients were also examined with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonanc e imaging (MRI). Abnormal perfusion was found in 17 (85%) of 20 SPECT scans. Abnormal CT or MRI scans were noted in nine (45%) and in 10 (50 %) of 20 cases, respectively. In eight (73%) of 11 cases with normal C T scans and in seven (70%) of 10 with normal MRI scans, the SPECT scan was abnormal. Abnormal regional cerebral blood flow on SPECT scans co rrelated better with EEG abnormalities than with neurologic examinatio n or CT or MRI scan findings. We conclude that in children and adolesc ents with a spectrum of neurologic diseases and abnormal EEGs, abnorma lities of brain structure or function are more likely to be documented by SPECT than by CT or MRI scans. SPECT findings correlate well with the location and type of EEG abnormality.