Overview
Degenerative diseases of the central nervous system represent a growing public health concern 1. Neuroimaging plays a role in the workup of these conditions, primarily to exclude other intracranial abnormalities 1.
Diagnosis
Structural imaging, such as MRI, often shows nonspecific findings and has limited ability to differentiate between various types of dementia 1.
Advanced imaging methods are not routinely used in general practice for dementia diagnosis or differentiation 1.
FDG-PET can help distinguish Alzheimer disease from frontotemporal dementia in patients evaluated by a dementia expert 1.
Functional imaging of the dopamine transporter (ioflupane) using SPECT may be helpful in suspected dementia with Lewy bodies 1.
DTPA cisternography and HMPAO SPECT/CT brain can assess patients with suspected normal-pressure hydrocephalus 1.Management
No specific management strategies are detailed in the provided abstracts.Special Populations
No specific information on special populations is provided in the abstracts.Key Recommendations
The primary role of neuroimaging in patients with probable or possible Alzheimer disease is to exclude other significant intracranial abnormalities 1. (Evidence: Expert opinion)
FDG-PET may help distinguish Alzheimer disease from frontotemporal dementia in patients evaluated by a dementia expert 1. (Evidence: Expert opinion)
Functional imaging of the dopamine transporter (ioflupane) using SPECT may be helpful in patients with suspected dementia with Lewy bodies 1. (Evidence: Expert opinion)
DTPA cisternography and HMPAO SPECT/CT brain may provide assessment in patients with suspected normal-pressure hydrocephalus 1. (Evidence: Expert opinion)References
1 Moonis G, Subramaniam RM, Trofimova A, Burns J, Bykowski J, Chakraborty S et al.. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Dementia. Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR 2020. link