Results of a Alzheimer’s Disease PET/CT Exam

PET/CT is proving valuable for patient’s neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s. CT scans from the PET/CT scanner can render exquisite detail about the structure of the brain, but the PET scan image can highlight abnormalities of brain function.

PET images show the metabolic degeneration of the brain of a patient with Alzheimer's as it progressively reduces brain function. In the early stages of the disease, limited areas of the brain are dysfunctional but in late stages (2 and 3) of Alzheimer's, larger brain areas can be affected.

A PET scan can show a very consistent diagnostic pattern for Alzheimer's disease. The pattern caused by Alzheimer's disease can be recognized several years before a physician is able to confirm the diagnosis and is also used to differentiate Alzheimer's from other confounding types of dementia or depression.

PET/CT works for brain disorders as brain cells use glucose as fuel. The more active the brain cells are the more glucose they will consume as fuel. Radioactive glucose (FDG) is used to trace the most active areas and less active areas do not show up as readily as more active areas, as good brain cells will consume less FDG.

A computer, using absorption data, shows the levels of brain activity as a "color coded brain map". One color (usually red) indicates more active brain areas, where another color (usually blue) indicates less active areas.