Cerebral scintigraphy, whose most correct name is cerebral perfusion tomography scintigraphy (SPECT), is an exam done to detect changes in blood circulation and brain function, and is usually performed to assist in the identification or monitoring of degenerative brain diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or tumor, especially when other tests such as MRI or CT scan are not enough to confirm the suspicions.
The cerebral scintigraphy exam is performed with the injection of drugs called radiopharmaceuticals or radiotracers, which are able to fix themselves in the brain tissue, allowing the formation of images in the device.
Scintigraphy is performed by the doctor, and can be done in hospitals or clinics that perform nuclear medicine exams, with due medical request, through SUS, some agreements, or in a private way.
What is it for
Cerebral scintigraphy provides information on blood perfusion and brain function, very useful in situations such as:
- Search for dementias, such as Alzheimer's or Lewy corpuscle dementia; Identify the focus of epilepsy; Assess brain tumors; Assist in the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease or other parkinsonian syndromes, such as Huntington's disease; Identify neuropsychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia, depression and obsessive compulsive disorders; Make early diagnosis, control and evolution of vascular brain diseases such as stroke and other types of strokes; Confirm brain death; Confirm brain damage caused by the use of illicit drugs such as cocaine, crack and heroin.
Often, brain scintigraphy is requested when there are doubts regarding the diagnosis of a neurological disease, since exams such as magnetic resonance and computed tomography, as they show more structural changes and in the anatomy of brain tissue, may not be enough to clarify some cases.
How it is done
To perform brain scintigraphy, no specific preparation is necessary. On the day of the exam, it is recommended that the patient rest for about 15 to 30 minutes, in a quiet room, to minimize anxiety, to ensure a better quality of the exam.
Then, the radiopharmaceutical, usually Technetium-99m or Thallium, is applied to the patient's vein, which must wait for at least 1 hour until the substance is properly concentrated in the brain before images can be taken on the device for about 40 to 60 minutes. During this period, it is necessary to remain motionless and lying down, as movement can impair the formation of images.
Then the patient is released for normal activities. The radiopharmaceuticals used do not usually cause reactions or any damage to the health of the person who performs the test.
Who should not do
Cerebral scintigraphy is contraindicated for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and should be informed in the presence of any suspicion.
