TECHNETIUM-99M-HMPAO BRAIN SPECT IN ANOREXIA-NERVOSA

Eating disorders have been redefined in recent years, Brain imaging te chniques are useful in demonstrating the association between the morph ologic and the functional cerebral changes in these cases. We report T c-99m-HMPAO brain SPECT findings in two patients with anorexia nervosa , before and after the treatment, While the detailed neurologic and la boratory examinations, including EEG and cranial GT, were within norma l limits before therapy, SPECT study revealed diffuse bilateral hypope rfusion in frontal, parietal and frontotemporal areas which was more p rominent in the left hemisphere, Posttreatment SPECT studies obtained after a clinical remission period of 3 mo showed normal brain perfusio n in both patients. The pre- and post-treatment SPECT studies accurate ly reflect the functional state of the patients, and this technique ma y be used to follow-up the effect of treatment and predict the clinica l response to therapy in patients with eating disorders.