QUANTITATION OF RCBF BY TC-99M-HEXAMETHYLPROPYLENEAMINE OXIME SINGLE-PHOTON EMISSION COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY COMBINED WITH XE-133 CBF

A simple, noninvasive method of measuring CBF that uses single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of Tc-99m-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (Tc-99m-HMPAO) and whole-brain CBF obtained by Xe-133 clearance technique was developed. SPECT data were normalized to the count density of HMPAO uptake in the whole brain and then converted to the absolute units of CBF by multiplying average CBF in the whole brain obtained by Xe-133. Mean CBF values in healthy volunteers (n = 12) were 49 +/- 7 and 30 +/- 5 mi 100 g(-1) min(-1) for gray matter and white matter, respectively, with a global flow value of 45 +/- 5 mi 100 g(-1) min(-1). The mean flow value was 19 +/- 7 mi 100 g(-1) min(-1) for the core of the infarct and 31 +/- 5 mi 100 g(-1) min(-1) for the contralateral region (n = 13). CBF values were reproducible for all brain regions. The method was convenient to use and suitable for the routine measurement of regional CBF in normal and pathologic states.