{"id":3935,"date":"2020-09-28T18:01:48","date_gmt":"2020-09-28T16:01:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rebrainclinic.com\/spect-brain-scan-activity\/"},"modified":"2020-11-01T16:45:53","modified_gmt":"2020-11-01T15:45:53","slug":"spect-brain-scan-activity","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/rebrainclinic.com\/en\/spect-brain-scan-activity\/","title":{"rendered":"SPECT brain scan – activity"},"content":{"rendered":"

SPECT brain scan <\/span>at leading private clinics.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n

Get your brain activity evaluated in just 20 minutes. <\/span>Reveal m<\/span>i<\/span>ld traumatic brain injury (mTBI) <\/span>with an <\/span>accurate 3-head<\/span>ed<\/span> SPECT <\/span>scanner.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h1><\/h1><\/div>
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What is SPECT?<\/span><\/h2><\/h2><\/div>
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A SPECT scan (single-photon emission computerized tomography) is used to look at the function of the organs. SPECT scanning of th<\/span>e brain is used to detect <\/span>the <\/span>areas <\/span>where <\/span>activity is <\/span>too high or too low.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SPECT <\/span>brain scan <\/span>uses a radioactive substance, a special camera <\/span>to catch the signals, <\/span>and software to create 2D<\/span>,<\/span> and especially 3D<\/span>,<\/span> images of the brain. After the examination, the substance is out of the body<\/span> after <\/span>3 hours<\/span>, and the scan does not produce more radiation than a comprehensive X-ray examination.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Photo: In a three-head<\/span>ed<\/span> SPECT scanner, the scanning time is reduced to only 15-20 minutes. This makes it easier for children to lie still.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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How does <\/span><\/span>SPECT <\/span><\/span>brain <\/span><\/span>scan<\/span><\/span> differ from the scans people know<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2><\/h2><\/div>
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SPECT <\/span>scanning<\/span> gives <\/span>greater <\/span>insight<\/span>,<\/span> especially <\/span>in<\/span> mild Traumatic Brain I<\/span>njury <\/span>(mTBI) <\/span>– <\/span>insight not obtained with a symptomatic evaluation alone.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Where MRI and CT show physical structures inside the brain, a <\/span>SPECT <\/span>brain <\/span>scan <\/span>produces images that show the activity in different places in the brain. A SPECT scan of the brain reveals where there is local overactivity and underactivity (1a<\/a>). It also shows how the blood flows in the brain.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A mild traumatic brain injury is seen as low activity locally in the injured area. Without SPECT, people can, after a concussion, be left without help or with the wrong help.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Figure: Injuries seen as low activity around the b<\/span>rainstem and left temporal lobe. <\/span>SPECT scanning provides great<\/span>er<\/span> insight into minor brain trauma<\/span>, insight<\/span> that cannot be achieved with symptomatic evaluation alone.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Comment: The “holes” in the image of the brain are not physical holes. They are areas of the brain with low brain activity, measured as blood flow.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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The most remarkable find<\/span>ings\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0
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SPECT brain scans <\/span>can now be used to differentiate between <\/span>relatively mild<\/span> physical brain injuries (mTBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Two research studies<\/span> published in 2015 by researchers from UCLA<\/span> and other places<\/span>, examined a total of 20746 patients<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

and showed that the two <\/span>conditions<\/span> can be distinguished from each other with <\/span>very high<\/span> accuracy, by means of SPECT imaging. Read the articles <\/span>(5a<\/a>, 5b<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

This achievement was recognized by<\/span><\/span> <\/span>Discover<\/span> Magazine<\/span><\/i><\/a>
as 19th <\/span>out <\/span>of the 100 best scientific news of 2015.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The study help<\/span>s<\/span> people with one or both of these conditions to get the right therapy.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Is SPECT experimental or evidence-based?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2><\/h2><\/div>
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The days are over when <\/span>SPECT <\/span>is <\/span>considered experimental.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. T<\/span>he Society of Nuclear Medicine and the European Association of Nuclear Medicine have recognized SPECT as a valuable diagnostic and prognostic tool for TBI (early concussion and chronic injury).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. The American College of Radiology recommends SPECT to diagnose symptomatic traumatic brain injury if no <\/span>results are found after <\/span>CT and\/<\/span>or MRI scan<\/span>s<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. A<\/span> review has found evidence for the use of SPECT scanning for mild traumatic brain injury, mTBI (6<\/a>).\u00a0<\/span>
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    In other words: SPECT scanning certainly works as a diagnostic tool for minor brain damage.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

    What to expect from a SPECT brain scan<\/h2>\n

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    Y<\/span>ou get two<\/span> scans <\/span>performed over two <\/span>day<\/span>s in a <\/span>private clinic<\/span>,<\/span> with <\/span>a special agreement <\/span>with <\/span>benefits from\u00a0<\/span> REbrain Clinic,:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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    1. A passive scan where you <\/span>are <\/span>almost <\/span>a<\/span>sleep <\/span>while you get<\/span> a small amount of radioactive substance (tracer) in the bloodstream via a catheter<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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      1. An active scan where you do a digital “focus test” in a dark room while getting the tracer into the blood via a catheter<\/span>
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        On the day of the scan, do not take food, supplements or medications tha<\/span>t affect blood flow. No eating one<\/span> hour before the scan. You get a practical guide.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        The tracer is out of the body after 3<\/span>\u00bd<\/span> hours.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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        SPECT <\/span><\/span>scans are used to diagnose the following conditions:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2><\/h2><\/div>
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        \"A<\/span><\/div>