Devous Michael D
Nuclear Medicine Center and Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9061, USA.
NeuroRx. 2005 Apr;2(2):237-49. doi: 10.1602/neurorx.2.2.237.
The measurement of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a powerful clinical and research tool. There are several clinical applications now documented, a substantial number under active investigation, and a larger number yet to be studied. Standards regarding patient imaging environment and image presentation are becoming established. This article reviews key aspects of SPECT functional brain imaging in clinical practice, with a particular emphasis on therapeutics, including 1) the quality of the tomographic device, 2) the radiopharmaceutical employed, 3) environmental conditions at the time of radiotracer administration, 4) characteristics of the subject, 5) the format used for image presentation, and 6) the essential components of image processing necessary to the achievement of high-quality SPECT brain images. Next, a brief description of relevant radiation safety issues is provided. Finally, applications in molecular imaging, especially in small animal imaging for research as well as drug discovery and development are discussed. The gamut of SPECT studies from currently routine clinical applications to molecular imaging offers a wonderful frontier for opportunities to employ functional brain imaging in neurotherapeutics.
通过单光子发射计算机断层扫描（SPECT）测量局部脑血流量（rCBF）是一种强大的临床和研究工具。目前已有多项临床应用记录在案，大量应用正在积极研究中，还有更多应用有待研究。关于患者成像环境和图像呈现的标准正在逐步确立。本文回顾了SPECT脑功能成像在临床实践中的关键方面，特别强调了治疗方面，包括1）断层扫描设备的质量，2）所使用的放射性药物，3）放射性示踪剂给药时的环境条件，4）受试者的特征，5）图像呈现所使用的格式，以及6）获得高质量SPECT脑图像所需的图像处理的基本组成部分。接下来，提供了相关辐射安全问题的简要描述。最后，讨论了SPECT在分子成像中的应用，特别是在用于研究以及药物发现和开发的小动物成像中的应用。从当前常规临床应用到分子成像的SPECT研究范围为在神经治疗中应用脑功能成像提供了一个绝佳的机会前沿。
