EARLY AND DELAYED SPECT IMAGES OF EXTRACEREBRAL FLUID COLLECTION IN INFANTS USING 123I-N-ISOPROPYL-P-IODOAMPHETAMINE

Cerebral blood flow in seven infants with extracerebral fluid collecti ons was investigated using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with I-123-N-isopropyl-p-iodoamphetamine. Early and delayed SP ECT imaging was carried out. Areas of hypoperfusion were observed in f ive cases. The watershed zone of the major cerebral arteries or the te rritory of the anterior cerebral arteries were common areas of low per fusion. The hypoperfusion area was redistributed in two cases with int racranial hypertension. Subduroperitoneal shunts produced improvement of clinical symptoms in these cases. Hypoperfusion without redistribut ion was observed in three patients. In these areas, permanent tissue d amage caused by a primary disease existed. Normal circulation patterns were observed in two patients. They showed normal development and fol low-up CT revealed a decrease in the size of the extracerebral fluid c ollection. Measurement of regional cerebral blood flow may be helpful in considering surgical indications and in following up extracerebral fluid collection in infants.