Analysis of Cerebral Blood Flow with Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography in Mild Subcortical Ischemic Vascular Dementia

Purpose The mechanism of cognitive dysfunction of subcortical ischemic vascular dementia (SIVaD) is not yet fully understood. The objective of this study was to investigate and compare the distribution of regional cerebral perfusion (CP) change in the mild forms of SIVaD, a relatively homogeneous subtype of vascular dementia, using statistical parametric mapping (SPM) analysis of the technetium-99m hexamethylproplyeneamineoxime (Tc-99m HMPAO) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Materials and Methods A total of 28 patients with mild SIVaD and 33 healthy controls were prospectively recruited and underwent SPECT imaging studies between January 2012 and May 2013. SPECT was performed to measure the regional CP, and SPM was applied to the analysis of the SPECT data. Results The regional CP was significantly decreased in the bilateral insula, anterior and posterior cingulated gyrus, precentral gyrus, and subcallosal gyrus as well as the right inferior parietal lobule in the SIVaD patients compared to the controls (corrected p = 0.01). The pattern of CP abnormality correlated well with those previously reported in later forms of SIVaD. Conclusions Reduction of CP in the brain areas mentioned was present earlier on in the natural course of SIVaD pathophysiology. Our study suggests that cognitive dysfunction of SIVaD may be related to these regional CP deficits.