PET in patients with clear-cut multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS)

2002 ◽  
Vol 41 (06) ◽  
pp. 233-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Hausteiner ◽  
A. Drzezga ◽  
P. Bartenstein ◽  
M. Schwaiger ◽  
H. Förstl ◽  
...  

SummaryAim: Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is a controversially discussed symptom complex. Patients afflicted by MCS react to very low and generally nontoxic concentrations of environmental chemicals. It has been suggested that MCS leads to neurotoxic damage or neuroimmunological alteration in the brain detectable by positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT). These methods are often applied to MCS patients for diagnosis, although they never proved appropriate. Method: We scanned 12 MCS patients with PET, hypothesizing that it would reveal abnormal findings. Results: Mild glucose hypometabolism was present in one patient. In comparison with normal controls, the patient group showed no significant functional brain changes. Conclusion: This first systematic PET study in MCS patients revealed no hint of neurotoxic or neuroimmuno-logical brain changes of functional significance.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Gesualdo M. Zucco ◽  
Richard L. Doty

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), a condition also known as Chemical Sensitivity (CS), Chemical Intolerance (CI), Idiopathic Environmental Illness (IEI) and Toxicant Induced Loss of Tolerance (TILT), is an acquired multifactorial syndrome characterized by a recurrent set of debilitating symptoms. The symptoms of this controversial disorder are reported to be induced by environmental chemicals at doses far below those usually harmful to most persons. They involve a large spectrum of organ systems and typically disappear when the environmental chemicals are removed. However, no clear link has emerged among self-reported MCS symptoms and widely accepted objective measures of physiological dysfunction, and no clear dose-response relationship between exposure and symptom reactions has been observed. In addition, the underlying etiology and pathogenic processes of the disorder remain unknown and disputed, although biologic and psychologic hypotheses abound. It is currently debated whether MCS should be considered a clinical entity at all. Nevertheless, in the last few decades MCS has received considerable scientific and governmental attention in light of the many persons reporting this illness. In this review, we provide a general overview of the history, definition, demographics, prevalence, and etiologic challenges in defining and understanding MCS.


1999 ◽  
Vol 38 (07) ◽  
pp. 297-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Grünwald ◽  
K. Herholz ◽  
T. Kuwert ◽  
K. Tatsch ◽  
O. Sabri ◽  
...  

ZusammenfassungDie funktionell bildgebenden Verfahren SPECT und PET werden zunehmend genutzt, um die Existenz eines Syndroms der erworbenen Chemikalienüberempfindlichkeit »Multiple Chemical Sensitivity« (MCS) nachzuweisen. In der Folge spielen SPECT und PET-Befunde auch im Rahmen von Gutachten bei Berufskrankheiten-Anzeigen als Beweismittel eine große Rolle. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird die zu diesem Thema existierende Literatur einer kritischen Betrachtung unterzogen. Die Autoren kommen zu dem Schluß, daß die gegenwärtig verfügbaren Daten nicht ausreichen, um die Existenz eines solchen Syndroms nachzuweisen. Die niedrige Spezifität der beschriebenen Veränderungen macht es sehr schwierig, einen kausalen Zusammenhang zu der toxischen Exposition herzustellen, und schränkt den Wert von PET und vor allem SPECT bei gutachterlichen Fragestellungen in diesem Zusammenhang ein.


Author(s):  
Hong-Jae Chae ◽  
Byoung-Gwon Kim ◽  
Hwan-Cheol Kim ◽  
Mi-Young Lee ◽  
Jong-Han Leem

1994 ◽  
Vol 10 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 323-326
Author(s):  
Jacob Berkson

I am Jacob B. Berkson, a 68-year-old resident of Hagerstown, Maryland. I was a trial lawyer for some 40 years. I am now retired and writing a book on Environmental Pollution and Environmental Illness, titled A Canary's Tale. I was invited to speak to you as a patient one who was poisoned by an organophosphate pesticide and who subsequently developed Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS, or sometimes referred to as Environmental Illness, EI).


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie A. Bebbington ◽  
Bryan T. Haddock ◽  
Henrik Bertilsson ◽  
Eero Hippeläinen ◽  
Ellen M. Husby ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Computed tomography (CT) scans are routinely performed in positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) examinations globally, yet few surveys have been conducted to gather national diagnostic reference level (NDRL) data for CT radiation doses in positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT). In this first Nordic-wide study of CT doses in hybrid imaging, Nordic NDRL CT doses are suggested for PET/CT and SPECT/CT examinations specific to the clinical purpose of CT, and the scope for optimisation is evaluated. Data on hybrid imaging CT exposures and clinical purpose of CT were gathered for 5 PET/CT and 8 SPECT/CT examinations via designed booklet. For each included dataset for a given facility and scanner type, the computed tomography dose index by volume (CTDIvol) and dose length product (DLP) was interpolated for a 75-kg person (referred to as CTDIvol,75kg and DLP75kg). Suggested NDRL (75th percentile) and achievable doses (50th percentile) were determined for CTDIvol,75kg and DLP75kg according to clinical purpose of CT. Differences in maximum and minimum doses (derived for a 75-kg patient) between facilities were also calculated for each examination and clinical purpose. Results Data were processed from 83 scanners from 43 facilities. Data were sufficient to suggest Nordic NDRL CT doses for the following: PET/CT oncology (localisation/characterisation, 15 systems); infection/inflammation (localisation/characterisation, 13 systems); brain (attenuation correction (AC) only, 11 systems); cardiac PET/CT and SPECT/CT (AC only, 30 systems); SPECT/CT lung (localisation/characterisation, 12 systems); bone (localisation/characterisation, 30 systems); and parathyroid (localisation/characterisation, 13 systems). Great variations in dose were seen for all aforementioned examinations. Greatest differences in DLP75kg for each examination, specific to clinical purpose, were as follows: SPECT/CT lung AC only (27.4); PET/CT and SPECT/CT cardiac AC only (19.6); infection/inflammation AC only (18.1); PET/CT brain localisation/characterisation (16.8); SPECT/CT bone localisation/characterisation (10.0); PET/CT oncology AC only (9.0); and SPECT/CT parathyroid localisation/characterisation (7.8). Conclusions Suggested Nordic NDRL CT doses are presented according to clinical purpose of CT for PET/CT oncology, infection/inflammation, brain, PET/CT and SPECT/CT cardiac, and SPECT/CT lung, bone, and parathyroid. The large variation in doses suggests great scope for optimisation in all 8 examinations.


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