BRAIN PERFUSION SPECT IN LYME NEUROBORRELIOSIS

SPECT imaging brain perfusion using Tc-99m-HMPAO was performed on a 38 -yr-old woman with Lyme neuroborreliosis confirmed by autopsy. The pat ient had been suspected of spinocerebellar degeneration. Cerebral bloo d flow was diffusely decreased throughout cerebral cortices but cerebe llar blood flow was not impaired, which indicated that the diagnosis w as unlikely spinocerebellar degeneration. These findings suggested tha t brain perfusion SPECT provides useful information in diagnosing the patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis, especially when spinocerebellar d egeneration is included in the differential diagnosis.