Added value and limitations of amyloid-PET imaging: review and analysis of selected cases of mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Issue 1 (2nd January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Weidman, David A.; Zamrini, Edward; Sabbagh, Marwan N.; Jacobson, Sandra; Burke, Anna; Belden, Christine; Powell, Jessica; Bhalla, Nidhi; Roontiva, Auttawut; Kuang, Xiaoying; Luo, Ji; Chen, Kewei; Riggs, Garrett; Burke, William
• Is Part Of: Neurocase. Volume 23:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 41
• Page End: 51
• Publication Date: 2017-01-02
• Subjects: Amyloid-PET -- Alzheimer's disease -- mild cognitive impairment -- dementia -- neuroimaging; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neuropsychology -- Case Report; Mental Disorders -- Case Report; Nervous System Diseases -- Case Report; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1080/13554794.2017.1290806
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1355-4794

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Amyloid-positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of the brain detects elevated amyloid-beta (amyloid-β) neuritic plaques in vivo, which can be helpful in appropriately selected cases of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia, when Alzheimer's disease remains a possible etiology, after a comprehensive clinical evaluation. We reviewed cases of cognitively impaired patients who underwent amyloid-PET imaging because of diagnostic uncertainty. Pre- and post-PET elements of diagnosis and management were first compared, to assess impact of scan results on clinical decision-making, and then an analysis of those decisions was undertaken in appropriate clinical situations, to delineate the added value and limitations of amyloid-PET imaging. The potential benefits and limitations of this diagnostic tool are important to understand in an era when the utility of such scans in clinical practice is evolving.