A clinical question
Could brain perfusion SPECT add information after a head injury?
Some people continue to experience symptoms after a known or possible head injury even when the clinical picture remains incomplete. Brain perfusion SPECT may be considered as one source of physiological information about regional cerebral blood flow. It does not, by itself, diagnose a traumatic brain injury or explain every symptom.
What do CT, MRI, and SPECT contribute?
CT and MRI are used to assess brain anatomy and structural injury. SPECT evaluates regional cerebral perfusion. In selected clinical circumstances, this functional information may complement the history, examination, and structural imaging when symptoms persist or recovery is prolonged.
What if there was no direct blow to the head?
A brain injury can occur through rapid acceleration, deceleration, or rotational forces even without a direct head impact. Whether an earlier event is clinically relevant requires evaluation of the full history and other available findings; a perfusion pattern alone cannot establish cause.
How is the result interpreted?
Dr. John Michael Uszler, a nuclear medicine physician, personally reviews the complete SPECT imaging dataset, evaluates image quality, identifies regional perfusion findings, and prepares a written report. He considers the imaging in the context of the information supplied by the referring or treating physician. The report contributes to that physician’s broader clinical assessment.
Where can I learn more?
Watch Dr. Uszler’s 90-second explanation of brain injury, concussion, and SPECT, including a readable transcript. The presentation is general education and cannot determine whether a scan is appropriate for an individual.
Patients, families, and referring physicians may call Dr. Uszler’s office at (310) 428-7064. Jean can explain the imaging pathway and how the scan is coordinated. See how to arrange a brain SPECT scan.