Begin with your concern
SPECT brain perfusion imaging may be considered when patients, families, or physicians are still seeking objective physiological information about brain function.
Symptoms or impaired function may persist even when CT, MRI, routine examinations, or previous evaluations have not provided sufficient objective explanation.
Explore clinical questions →An incomplete clinical pictureA prior brain injury, toxic or inflammatory contributor, seizure-related dysfunction, or another coexisting abnormality may not yet have been considered.
Review common clinical considerations →A focused imaging serviceDr. Uszler’s independent SPECT brain perfusion interpretation contributes objective imaging information to the patient’s existing clinical relationship.
See how the service works →drspectscan.org
See brain function objectively. SPECT brain perfusion imaging adds objective physiological information to the patient’s subjective symptoms and the treating physician’s clinical assessment.
The report contributes information about regional cerebral perfusion to the complete clinical picture. It does not, by itself, establish a diagnosis or replace the treating physician’s clinical judgment.
Clinical context
Regional cerebral perfusion information may help broaden or narrow clinical considerations, reveal additional brain perfusion findings requiring correlation, or establish a functional baseline in selected circumstances.
These are common examples for discussion with the office—not navigation choices or diagnostic categories.
Memory change, cognitive decline, or concern about dementia
Persistent symptoms after a known or possible traumatic brain injury
Autism or other developmental concerns
Attention, concentration, behavioral, or emotional concerns
Seizure-related dysfunction or other neurological questions
Possible multiple or unexpected clinical contributors
A functional baseline for later clinical comparison
Clinical question · tracer distribution · regional cerebral perfusion
Objective physiological information, interpreted in the context of the complete clinical picture.Practical questions
Each answer is a starting point for conversation with Dr. Uszler’s office. It is general information, not an individualized diagnosis or medical recommendation.
SPECT brain perfusion imaging provides objective physiological information about regional cerebral perfusion. Dr. Uszler interprets that information together with the clinical history and other available medical information; the scan does not, by itself, establish a diagnosis.
CT and MRI primarily show brain anatomy. SPECT evaluates regional cerebral perfusion, so it may contribute functional information in selected clinical circumstances even when structural imaging has not explained the patient’s continuing symptoms.
A brain injury can occur through abrupt acceleration or deceleration even without a direct blow to the head. When clinically appropriate, SPECT brain perfusion imaging may contribute objective physiological information to the evaluation of persistent symptoms or a possible previously unrecognized injury.
These are among the clinical circumstances in which patients, families, and physicians may ask whether brain perfusion information could be useful. Findings must be correlated with symptoms, history, examination, testing, and the treating physician’s clinical judgment.
No. Referring physicians, patients, and families may begin by calling Dr. Uszler’s office. A physician’s prescription may be required if a patient later chooses to seek possible insurance reimbursement.
Dr. Uszler personally processes and reviews the complete imaging dataset, evaluates image quality, identifies the regional cerebral perfusion findings, formulates the diagnostic considerations, and prepares the written medical imaging report for the referring or treating physician.
Dr. Uszler does not operate a scan-acquisition facility. Through his longstanding collegial relationship with Amen Clinics, Jean coordinates the scan procedure at an appropriate Amen Clinics location; Amen Clinics performs the acquisition and transfers the complete DICOM scan data to Dr. Uszler.
No. Every patient referred to Dr. Uszler begins with his office. Jean Cristofoli Uszler, office administrator and scheduling coordinator, explains the process and coordinates the scan appointment with Amen Clinics.
Studies not requiring sedation are often scheduled within approximately one to three weeks. Sedation cases may require approximately one to three months because only selected locations and dates are available. Reports are ordinarily completed within two business days after the complete scan data and necessary clinical information are received.
Artificial intelligence is not used to process patient images, assess image quality, analyze the imaging, identify findings, or formulate diagnostic considerations. Only after completing his independent interpretation and diagnostic formulation may Dr. Uszler use AI as a supplementary way to discover potentially relevant medical literature.
No patient-identifying information, clinical records, or scan data are supplied to AI.
A coordinated medical imaging pathway
Every referred or self-directed patient begins with Dr. Uszler’s office.
Every referred or self-directed patient begins by contacting Dr. Uszler’s office. Jean Cristofoli Uszler, office administrator and scheduling coordinator, explains the process and coordinates the next steps.
Jean coordinates the appointment with Amen Clinics for the scan acquisition.
Amen Clinics performs the scan. The complete DICOM scan data are transmitted from the Amen Clinics IT system to Dr. Uszler.
Dr. Uszler processes and reviews the complete dataset, evaluates image quality, identifies the regional cerebral perfusion findings, formulates diagnostic considerations, and prepares the written report.
The report and selected images are provided to the referring or treating physician. A later consultation may be arranged separately when helpful.
Dr. Uszler provides independent SPECT brain perfusion image processing, medical imaging interpretation, and reporting. Because he no longer operates his own scan-acquisition facility, his longstanding collegial relationship with Amen Clinics makes its locations available for the scan procedure.
Amen Clinics performs the scan acquisition. Scan acquisition and Dr. Uszler’s independent physician interpretation and reporting are provided by separate medical businesses, each responsible for its own part of the process.
Amen Clinics transfers the complete DICOM scan data to Dr. Uszler. His independent interpretation, written report, and any later consultation remain connected with the patient and the referring or treating physician.
Adult studies and studies of children not requiring sedation are often scheduled within approximately one to three weeks, depending on location, travel, and appointment availability. Sedation cases may require approximately one to three months because only selected locations and dates are available.
Reports are ordinarily completed within two business days after the complete scan data and necessary clinical information have been received.
Dr. Uszler and Jean discuss with the parent whether sedation is likely to be required based on the child’s ability to remain still for approximately 20 minutes. Jean coordinates the case through Amen Clinics. Amen Clinics’ sedation personnel communicate directly with the parent or guardian and conduct the sedation process; Dr. Uszler’s office does not administer or manage sedation.
John Michael Uszler, MD, MS
Physician · Nuclear Medicine · SPECT Brain Perfusion Imaging
Dr. Uszler appreciates the opportunity to place his decades of experience in SPECT brain perfusion imaging in service to patients and their referring physicians, helping clarify difficult clinical questions through careful, independent interpretation.
Published medical scholarship. His peer-reviewed work has received multiple citations. Doximity Citations Report updated September 2026.
View professional CVUCLA David Geffen School of Medicine
Dr. Uszler personally reviews the complete SPECT brain perfusion image dataset, evaluates image quality, identifies the regional cerebral perfusion findings, and formulates the diagnostic considerations. AI is not used to perform these professional imaging responsibilities.
Only after completing his image interpretation and diagnostic formulation may Dr. Uszler use AI as a supplementary literature-discovery resource to help identify potentially relevant supporting, conflicting, or related medical publications. He reviews the original literature sources and retains full responsibility for the final report and all professional conclusions.
No patient-identifying information, clinical records, or scan data are supplied to AI.
Beyond the scan
Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to computer-based systems designed to perform tasks commonly associated with human reasoning, such as organizing information, recognizing relationships, and assisting with research.
Dr. Uszler remains interested in responsible future applications of AI in medical imaging, medical-literature review, imaging-workflow modernization, and cross-disciplinary professional collaboration.
Broader conversations involving consciousness, spirituality, human meaning, and brain health may also have a place here—without displacing the practical medical imaging service or becoming diagnostic or treatment claims.
Begin with your questions
Call or email to ask whether SPECT brain perfusion imaging may be appropriate for the clinical question. There is no charge for preliminary questions. If a formal professional consultation appears helpful, its purpose, scope, and fee will be explained before any work begins.
Usual business hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Messages are usually returned within one business day.