Central pain after pontine infarction is associated with changes in opioidreceptor binding: A PET study with C-11-diprenorphine

Using F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose and C-11-diprenorphine positron emission tomo graphy (PET), we investigated alterations in glucose metabolism and opioid receptor binding in a patient with central poststroke pain, which developed after a small pontine hemorrhagic infarction, In comparison with normal da tabases, reduced C-11-diprenorphine binding was more accentuated than the h ypometabolism on the lateral cortical surface contralateral to the symptoms , and a differential abnormal distribution between the tracers was seen in pain related central structures. These results show that C-11-diprenorphine PET provides unique information for the understanding of central poststrok e pain.