Technetium-99m ethylene cysteine dimer posterior fossa perfusion and brain death

hnetium-99m ethylene cysteine dimer posterior fossa perfusion and brain death Case Series (771) Total Article Views Authors: Joseph UA, Kothari K, Skolkin D, Wan DQ, Gayed IW Published Date September 2012 Volume 2012:2 Pages 11 - 15 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/RRNM.S32386 Received: 29 March 2012 Accepted: 14 June 2012 Published: 17 September 2012 Usha A Joseph,1 Kunal Kothari,2 Dayna Skolkin,3 David Q Wan,1 Isis W Gayed1 1Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, TX; 2Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD; 3Bachelor of Nursing Student, University of Texas at Austin, TX, USA Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of and outcome in patients with isolated posterior fossa uptake on cerebral perfusion scan. Methods: A retrospective review was undertaken of electronic medical records over 6 years from 713 consecutive patients undergoing technetium-99m ethyl cysteine dimer cerebral perfusion scans to identify isolated posterior fossa activity. Results: Of the 13 patients with isolated posterior fossa activity, 10 deteriorated to death and three had life support withdrawn. They survived an average of 0.24 day ± 0.27 standard deviation (SD) days after scanning and an average of 1.03 ± 0.33 SD days on life support. Conclusion: Unilateral or bilateral isolated posterior fossa technetium-99m ethyl cysteine dimer activity indicates imminent or impending brain death and a poor prognosis.