Comparative study of the sensitivity of CT and quantitative angioscintigraphy in cerebrovascular disease

Abstract

A method for multiparametric quantitative cerebral angioscintigraphy is described. For the evaluation of the symmetry of hemispherical bolus transit the following parameters were used: the cumulative L/R hemispheric ratios expressed in arctangent values and the sequential hemispheric activity difference. Both the sensitivity and specificity of this technique for detection of proven stenosis of carotid or cerebral arteries (25 cases) were 80%, in comparison with 60% for computerized axial tomography. A few clinical examples illustrate the diagnostic utility of quantitative cerebral angioscintigraphy. The value of the different quantitative parameters is discussed and compared with other similar studies. With regard to the complementary role of computerized axial tomography and serial cerebral scintigraphy the results of other authors were confirmed. Considering the broad field of application for dynamic brain scintigraphy and the fact that both sensitivity and specificity of this exploration are comparable to, or even better than, CT, it is our opinion that isotopic exploration remains a reliable detection method for cerebrovascular disease.