PET and SPECT imaging as a solid guide to detect and discriminate atypical phenotypes of neurodegenerative disorders

• Authors: Livia Ruffini , Alessandro Zilioli , Veronica Cervati , Fulvio Lauretani , Francesco Misirocchi , Marcello Maggio , Silvia Migliari , Tiziano Graziani , Carla Cidda , Giorgio Baldari , Marco Spallazzi , Maura Scarlattei

Abstracts

EN

Introduction and aim. Atypical or mixed presentations of neurodegenerative disorders may postpone or confound the final diagnosis. Molecular imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) radioligands provide target-specific information and may anticipate the diagnosis by “in vivo” detection of the neuropathological substrate, as Aβ deposition, nigrostriatal dopaminergic depletion or tau inclusions. This concise review will discuss the potential of PET and SPECT imaging as a solid guide to better characterize atypical phenotypes of neurodegeneration in the clinical routine, with the potential to drive personalized interventions, improve cohort uniformity for clinical trials, and serve as biomarkers for targeted molecular therapies. Material and methods. Literature search was performed focusing on the role of PET and SPECT imaging in assessing atypical phenotypes of neurodegeneration, using the electronic source of database PubMed/MEDLINE and the web-based search engines Google, Google Scholar. Analysis of the literature. New disease-modifying drugs may increase their effect with early initiation, which is especially important in working persons and younger subjects presenting atypical symptoms. In older individuals, the coexistence of neurodegeneration, age-related changes, cerebrovascular lesions, or depression makes challenging a definitive diagnosis. Quantitative tools able to measure tracer distribution increase the accuracy of molecular neuroimaging creating topographic maps that compare subject’s data with healthy controls databases. Conclusion. Atypical phenotypes may be associated with quantitative key-pattern allowing a more precise and early diagnosis of the neurodegenerative disorder. Finally, quantitative assessment of the pathological substrates allows us to track the disease process and measure treatment response.

Keywords

EN

atypical phenotypes; neurodegenerative diseases; positron emission tomography; single photon emission computed tomography

• Publisher: Uniwersytet Rzeszowski. Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Rzeszowskiego
• Journal: European Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
• Year: 2024
• Volume: 22
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 201-221

Dates

published

2024

Contributors

author

Livia Ruffini

• Nuclear Medicine Division, Azienda Ospedaliero – Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy

author

Alessandro Zilioli

• Neurology Division, Azienda Ospedaliero – Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
• Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

author

Veronica Cervati

• Nuclear Medicine Division, Azienda Ospedaliero – Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy

author

Fulvio Lauretani

• Geriatric Clinic Unit, Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero – Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
• Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

author

Francesco Misirocchi

• Neurology Division, Azienda Ospedaliero – Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
• Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

author

Marcello Maggio

• Geriatric Clinic Unit, Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero – Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
• Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

author

Silvia Migliari

• Nuclear Medicine Division, Azienda Ospedaliero – Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy

author

Tiziano Graziani

• Nuclear Medicine Division, Azienda Ospedaliero – Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy

author

Carla Cidda

• Nuclear Medicine Division, Azienda Ospedaliero – Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy

author

Giorgio Baldari

• Nuclear Medicine Division, Azienda Ospedaliero – Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy

author

Marco Spallazzi

• Neurology Division, Azienda Ospedaliero – Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy

author

Maura Scarlattei

• Nuclear Medicine Division, Azienda Ospedaliero – Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy

Identifiers

DOI

10.15584/ejcem.2024.1.20

Biblioteka Nauki

40521373