PET and SPECT Imaging of ALS: An Educational Review

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease leading to progressive motor degeneration and ultimately death. It is a complex disease that can take a significantly long time to be diagnosed, as other similar pathological conditions must be ruled out for a definite diagnosis of ALS. Noninvasive im...

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Main Authors: Ayaan M. Jamali, Manasa Kethamreddy, Brian J. Burkett, John D. Port, Mukesh K. Pandey
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2023-01-01
Series:Molecular Imaging
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/5864391
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author Ayaan M. Jamali
Manasa Kethamreddy
Brian J. Burkett
John D. Port
Mukesh K. Pandey
author_facet Ayaan M. Jamali
Manasa Kethamreddy
Brian J. Burkett
John D. Port
Mukesh K. Pandey
author_sort Ayaan M. Jamali
collection DOAJ
description Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease leading to progressive motor degeneration and ultimately death. It is a complex disease that can take a significantly long time to be diagnosed, as other similar pathological conditions must be ruled out for a definite diagnosis of ALS. Noninvasive imaging of ALS has shed light on disease pathology and altered biochemistry in the ALS brain. Other than magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), two types of functional imaging, positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), have provided valuable data about what happens in the brain of ALS patients compared to healthy controls. PET imaging has revealed a specific pattern of brain metabolism through [18F]FDG, while other radiotracers have uncovered neuroinflammation, changes in neuronal density, and protein aggregation. SPECT imaging has shown a general decrease in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in ALS patients. This educational review summarizes the current state of ALS imaging with various PET and SPECT radiopharmaceuticals to better understand the pathophysiology of ALS.
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spelling doaj-art-b622d80234a34d89a649b7ece9354bfe2025-01-02T21:31:29ZengSAGE PublishingMolecular Imaging1536-01212023-01-01202310.1155/2023/5864391PET and SPECT Imaging of ALS: An Educational ReviewAyaan M. Jamali0Manasa Kethamreddy1Brian J. Burkett2John D. Port3Mukesh K. Pandey4Department of RadiologyDepartment of RadiologyDepartment of RadiologyDepartment of RadiologyDepartment of RadiologyAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease leading to progressive motor degeneration and ultimately death. It is a complex disease that can take a significantly long time to be diagnosed, as other similar pathological conditions must be ruled out for a definite diagnosis of ALS. Noninvasive imaging of ALS has shed light on disease pathology and altered biochemistry in the ALS brain. Other than magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), two types of functional imaging, positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), have provided valuable data about what happens in the brain of ALS patients compared to healthy controls. PET imaging has revealed a specific pattern of brain metabolism through [18F]FDG, while other radiotracers have uncovered neuroinflammation, changes in neuronal density, and protein aggregation. SPECT imaging has shown a general decrease in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in ALS patients. This educational review summarizes the current state of ALS imaging with various PET and SPECT radiopharmaceuticals to better understand the pathophysiology of ALS.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/5864391
spellingShingle Ayaan M. Jamali
Manasa Kethamreddy
Brian J. Burkett
John D. Port
Mukesh K. Pandey
PET and SPECT Imaging of ALS: An Educational Review
Molecular Imaging
title PET and SPECT Imaging of ALS: An Educational Review
title_full PET and SPECT Imaging of ALS: An Educational Review
title_fullStr PET and SPECT Imaging of ALS: An Educational Review
title_full_unstemmed PET and SPECT Imaging of ALS: An Educational Review
title_short PET and SPECT Imaging of ALS: An Educational Review
title_sort pet and spect imaging of als an educational review
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/5864391
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