Atlas of 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT brain perfusion in pediatric brain disorders

Background: Blood flow to the brain is in parallel with brain metabolism in almost all brain disorders except in brain tumors and therefore regional cerebral blood flow can be used as a marker of metabolic brain activity and hence it is closely linked to neuronal activity, the activity distribution is presumed to reflect neuronal activity levels in different areas of the brain. Purpose: The aim of this work is to demonstrate to pediatrician in general and pediatric neurologist in particular the variations in cerebral perfusion during normal development which should be taken into consideration at the time of interpreting SPECT brain perfusion scan in different pediatric brain disorders. Method: Brain SPECT was performed 10 minutes after an intravenous injection of 11.1 MBq/kg (0.3 mCi/kg), and the minimum dose is 185 MBq (5 mCi) of 99mTc-HMPAO (4). Results: This was a retrospective analysis of SPECT brain perfusion scan of pediatric patients performed between October 2015 and December 2019 at our institution. We selected normal and abnormal studies in pediatric population with age range (5 months - 14 years). Conclusion: Although anatomic cross sectional imaging give details of neurological structural changes, SPECT perfusion mirrors indirectly both metabolic and neuronal activity changes. Therefore, accurate interpretation of SPECT perfusion will consolidate its role as part of the diagnostic protocol and used when the findings of other imaging modalities do not explain the symptoms or fail partially or completely in determining the etiology of brain disorders in pediatric patients.

STUDY ON THE ROLE OF VENTILATION-PERFUSION SCAN IN DETECTION OF SILENT PULMONARY EMBOLISM IN NEPHROTIC SYNDROME CHILDREN

INTRODUCTION: Clinically silent pulmonary thromboembolism is commoner than symptomatic one in children with nephrotic syndrome. The present study was done to look for the occurrence of asymptomatic pulmonary thromboembolism in children with nephrotic syndrome using V IQ scan, which is noninvasive, cost effective. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study conducted at a tertiary care centre over a period of one year on one hundred children with nephrotic syndrome between the ages of 5 and 15 years with a median age of 8 years attending the Pediatric Nephrology Clinic were taken up for the study. Patients showing defect in Tc99m-MAA perfusion scintigraphy underwent ventilation scan within 24-48 hours. Scan ndings were interpreted by two nuclear medicine physicians independently who were unaware of illness of the patients. The results were interpreted according to Modied Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis (PIOPED) criteria. The overall incidence of abnormal V/Q RESULTS: scan in our study was 14%. Individually the incidence was 13.9% in group I, 22.22% in group II and 3.6% in group III, which indicates that patients with steroid resistant and steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome in relapse were prone to develop thromboembolic complications more than those who were in remission. Combined scintigraphic evidence of pulmonary thromboembolism was 18.05% in Groups I and II compared to 3.6% in controls (Group III). Patients with abnormal ventilation-perfusion scan showed s CONCLUSION: ignicantly larger (p<0.05) duration of illness (mean 69.7±55.3 months) and signicantly greater degree (p<0.001) of proteinuria as compared to patients with normal ventilation-perfusion scan who had mean duration of illness of 45.5±38.0 months.

Cytomegalovirus haemorrhagic enterocolitis associated with severe infection with COVID-19

We present a case of haemorrhagic enterocolitis in a patient with SARS-CoV-2 who recovered from respiratory failure after support with venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. We describe clinicopathological features consistent with the systemic coinfection/reactivation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) concurrent with COVID-19 infection and the protracted clinical course of resolution of gastrointestinal inflammation after the treatment of CMV infection. Stool PCR, abdominal CT perfusion scan and histological examination of ileal and colonic tissues excluded enterocolitis secondary to other causes of infection (common viral, bacterial and protozoal gastrointestinal pathogens), macrovascularand microvascular ischaemia and classic inflammatory bowel disease, respectively. We propose possible synergistic pathophysiologic mechanisms for enterocolitis complicating severe COVID-19 infection: (1) T lymphocyte depletion and immune response dysregulation, (2) use of immunomodulators in the management of severe COVID-19 infection and (3) high concentration of ACE-2 receptors for COVID-19 virus in the gastrointestinal tract.

Persistence of Glenohumeral Subluxation is Correlated with Prolonged Existence of Crossed Cerebellar Diaschisis in a Hemiplegic Stroke Survivor: A Pilot Study

Glenohumeral Subluxation (GHS) is one cause of shoulder pain after stroke. The greater the distance of GHS, the higher is the chance of rotator tendonitis or tearing of the tendon, causing limited motions and excruciating pain. Cross Cerebellar Diaschisis (CCD), a reduction of blood flow in the contralateral cerebellum after the supratentorial stroke, is detectable by a brain perfusion scan, and it has marked impacts on functional outcomes after stroke. We presented here a case on hemiplegic stroke. CCD of the patient persisted for 7 months without improvements. The patient underwent measurement of GHS and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography to confirm the characteristic relationship. The patient’s GHS persisted for a prolonged period of time during which the acromiohumeral distance was longer than those of the general CCD-free stroke. Together with persisted CCD, the persistence of GHS was correlated with a prolonged CCD, which is presumably one sign of motor deficits associated with CCD.