LUXURY PERFUSION WITH TC-99M-HMPAO AND I-123 IMP SPECT IMAGING DURING THE SUBACUTE PHASE OF STROKE

To compare the merits of123I-isopropyl-iodoam-phetamine (123I-IMP) and99mTc-HMPAO in showing abnormal brain uptake distribution during cerebral ischemia, we studied ten patients during the subacute phase of their stroke, a period where metabolism and blood flow are frequently uncoupled. SPECT imaging was performed using both radiopharmaceuticals in the 10 patients from 48 h to 4 weeks after onset of symptoms. Two patients out of the 10 had similar defects with123I-IMP and99mTc-HMPAO SPECT, the location of the defects corresponding to the area of infarction observed on CT. Six patients had normal99mTc-HMPAO SPECT and abnormal123I-IMP SPECT with defects in the area of infarction shown by CT. The remaining 2 patients had hyperactive abnormalities on99mTc-HMPAO in areas corresponding to defects on the123I-IMP images. Two of the patients with SPECT mismatches were studied again more than 1 month after onset. On reexamination,99mTc-HMPAO SPECT which was previously normal or hyperactive became hypoactive with a focal area of decreased activity corresponding to the defect on123I-IMP. Crossed cerebellar diaschisis was found in 7 patients with99mTc-HMPAO and was absent for both123I-IMP and99mTc-HMPAO in 3. We suggest that SPECT with99mTc-HMPAO could show transient hyperemia not demonstrated by123I-IMP whereas in some cases cerebral infarction would be more difficult to demonstrate with99mTc-HMPAO than with123I-IMP. SPECT with both tracers is recommended to follow the evolution of strokes in terms of regional cerebral blood flow and tissue metabolism. © 1990 Springer-Verlag.