SATSCOM - Selective amobarbital test intraarterial SPECT coregistered to MRI: Description of a method assessing selective perfusion

For evaluation of potential functional deficits, an intraarterial amobarbit al test is performed prior to neurosurgical or neuroradiological interventi ons. To visualize individual amobarbital perfusion patterns, simultaneous i njection of Tc-99m-HMPAO was performed previously. The present study descri bes for the first time a method of coregistration of intraarterial SPECT du ring selective amobarbital test to MRI, Three patients undergoing selective amobarbital test of the posterior cerebral artery were included. SATSCOM ( Selective amobarbital test intraarterial SPECT coregistered to MRI) was per formed by skull extraction in SPECT and MRI followed by surface matching. I n all, three patients, SATSCOM revealed accurate matching results. With thi s functional-anatomical mapping, suppression of higher cortical functions c an be correlated to anatomical regions. Furthermore, a more precise mapping of amobarbital effect improves planning invasive interventions, particular ly those close to eloquent areas, (C) 2000 Academic Press.