Identifying the neural basis for rosacea using positron emission tomography-computed tomography cerebral functional imaging analysis: A cross-sectional study

Background The neural basis of rosacea is not well understood. This study aimed to determine whether cerebral glucose metabolism (CGM) changes on F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) scans can detect functional network changes in specific brain areas in patients with rosacea. Materials and methods Eight adults with rosacea and 10 age/sex-matched healthy adults (controls) were enrolled in the study. F-18-FDG PET/CT brain images for all eight patients and whole-body images for two of the patients were analyzed qualitatively and semi-quantitatively. Differences between the study groups were examined using Fischer's exact test and a Student's t-test. A voxel-based analysis using statistical parametric mapping was performed to compare the brain metabolism of the patients with that of the controls. Results Compared with the controls, the patients with rosacea showed extensive changes in the CGM signals in the cerebral cortex and limbic system, with less CGM shown in the right superior parietal lobule, right postcentral gyrus, right parahippocampal gyrus, left superior frontal gyrus, and lateral posterior thalamic nucleus and more CGM in the right precentral gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus, and cerebellar tonsil. No dysmetabolic lesions were found in the whole-body F-18-FDG PET/CT images. Conclusion Specific neural functional changes occur in patients with rosacea that may explain its pathogenesis.