NEUROLOGY

PET IN NEUROLOGY

Nothing conjures up so much dread in the elderly as a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Nothing is more heartrending than to see a child with an uncontrollable seizure disorder. To share a moment with a victim of Parkinson's disease is to witness the agony of not being able to perform the simplest of physical tasks. Stroke, dementia in its many forms, and brain tumours are other disorders that strike the brain and the very core of our personality.

PET is proving essential for patients with these neurological disorders.

CT and MR scans may render exquisite detail about the structure of the brain - but can tell nothing about its function. With a single PET image, abnormalities of brain function can be found that would otherwise go undetected. PET is a powerful tool in the hands of a properly trained physician. It brings to light sometimes subtle but significant evidence consistent with the presence or absence of disease.

How can PET make a difference?

• Localize the brain site of seizure activity. This is especially important for children with uncontrollable seizures who are candidates for hemispherectomy as a cure.
  
• Providing clues essential in determining if that muscle tremor is Parkinson's disease or another of the "Movement" disorders.
  
• Looking at a brain tumour and reveal information that is indicative of whether it's benign or malignant. It is also widely used when recurrence is suspected to show whether structural change is tumour re-growth or merely scar tissue.
  
• Helping physicians to "map" the areas of the brain responsible for movement, speech, and other critical functions. This is a remarkable guide for surgeons who are performing delicate operations on different areas of the brain.