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American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias logoLink to American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
. 2008 Apr-May;23(2):184–191. doi: 10.1177/1533317507312621

Correlative Studies of Structural and Functional Imaging in Primary Progressive Aphasia

PK Panegyres 1, M McCarthy 2, A Campbell 3, N Lenzo 4, M Fallon 5, J Thompson 6
PMCID: PMC10846106  PMID: 18192445

Abstract

Rationale: To compare and contrast structural and functional imaging in primary progressive aphasia (PPA). Methods: A cohort of 8 patients diagnosed with PPA presenting with nonfluency were prospectively evaluated. All patients had structural imaging in the form of MRI and in 1 patient CAT scanning on account of a cardiac pacemaker. All patients had single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Results: SPECT and PET imaging had 100% correlation. Anatomical imaging was abnormal in only 6 of the 8 patients. Wernicke's area showed greater peak Z score reduction and extent of area affected than Broca's area (McNemar paired test: P = .008 for Z score reduction; P = .0003 for extent). PET scanning revealed significant involvement of the anterior cingulum. Conclusion: Functional imaging in PPA: (a) identified more patients correctly than anatomic imaging highlighting the importance of SPECT and PET in the diagnosis; and (b) demonstrated the heterogeneous involvement of disordered linguistic networks in PPA suggesting its syndromic nature.

Keywords: primary progressive aphasia, imaging

Full Text

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Contributor Information

P.K. Panegyres, Neurosciences Unit, Health Department of Western Australia, Mt Claremont, Neurodegenerative Disorders Research, Subiaco Western Australia, Australia, macfarlane4@optusnet.co.au .

M. McCarthy, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA PET/Cyclotron Service, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Shenton Park, Nuclear Medicine Service, Perth Radiological Clinic, Subiaco.

A. Campbell, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth.

N. Lenzo, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA PET/Cyclotron Service, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Shenton Park.

M. Fallon, Nuclear Medicine Service, Perth Radiological Clinic, Subiaco.

J. Thompson, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth.

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