The role of ⁹⁹tc^m-HMPAO brain spet in paediatric traumatic brain injury

Twenty-eight paediatric patients suffering from chronic sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI) were examined by EEG, radionuclide imaging with ⁹⁹Tc^m-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (⁹⁹Tc^m-HMPAO), computed tomography (CT) and, when available, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the results of which were evaluated retrospectively. Our findings indicate that neuro-SPET (single photon emission tomography) with ⁹⁹Tc^m-HMPAO is more sensitive than morphological or electrophysiological tests in detecting functional lesions. In our group, 15 of 32 CT scans were normal, compared with 3 of 35 SPET studies. SPET identified approximately 2.5 times more lesions than CT (86 vs 34). SPET was found to be particularly sensitive in detecting organic abnormalities in the basal ganglia and cerebellar regions, with a 3.6:1 detection rate in the basal ganglia and a 5:1 detection rate in the cerebellum compared with CT. In conclusion, neuro-SPET appears to be very useful when evaluating paediatric post-TBI patients in whom other modalities are not successful.