posted
my doctor has just recommended a spect scan on my brain. has anyone had one done? i am quite concerned about the effect of the dye on my immune or other symptoms. when they thought i broke my back in '01, my previous doctor (now retired) did not want them to use blue dye for the cat scan, and that was before i was diagnosed with lyme, but had other autoimmune problems, etc. any input would be greatly appreciated. also, would anyone recommend mri's, pet or other scans over the spect scan? thank you.
Posts: 17 | From Northern CA | Registered: Mar 2007
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Okay, so your doctor wants you to have a Brain Spect Scan. No Bigge. The procedure takes 45 minutes. The contrasting dye that is used is harmless. There are no side effects and all it does is illuminate your brain. I don't know where you got the idea that contrasting dye is a harmful substance. The reason why your doctor back in 2001 didn't want you to have the contrast dye for the CT is probably because he felt that a non-contrast CT was sufficient.
The dye will have no effect on your immune system and other problems. The only bad part is that you are being exposed to radiation both internally and externally, but you'll be okay.
Take Care! K-lyme
Posts: 227 | From CA | Registered: Apr 2004
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I was worried about contrast for my spect. I've also had a PET scan(for cancer-not lyme) with no problems, and radiologist said dye for spect was weaker than one used for PET.
No problems, but it is weird to have tracer material injected into your body. I'm glad I had the spect scan-it helped in decisions for treatment and insurance payment.
posted
Umm the "dye" is RADIOACTIVE, I would say radiation is harmful, but it depends on how much your exposed to. I was setting off alarms three days later at the boarder going back into the US after having my Brain Spect.
What is a SPECT Brain Scan?
Single Photon-Emission Computed Tomography uses the injection of a radioisotope that is carried in the blood to the tissues. The isotope passes into the tissue and the radiation can be detected using a gamma camera. The greater the blood flow the more is taken up by the tissue. The resulting computed image displays the concentration as a color and the convention for the image is that white is the highest level followed by red, yellow, green, blue etc.
S.P.E.C.T. Brain Scans is a new, advanced diagnostic nuclear medical Imaging procedure that provides `` cross sections of the brain Images'' Unlike MRI and CAT Scans which only depict anatomy, S.P.E.C.T. Brain Scans shows actual brain blood flow function.
S.P.E.C.T. Brain Scanning pinpoints the position of recoverable brain cells, (referred to as Sleeping cells or Idling neurons or Ischemic Penumbra).
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The use of a brain SPECT scan is based on the principal of blood flow. Areas of increased blood flow take up more Radioactive tracer than areas of less blood flow. Blood flow in the brain is directly related to brain activity. Areas or regions of interest in the brain are related in their demand for blood flow which can be imaged with this specific nuclear test.
The basis of the brain image comes from the temporary uptake of radioactive particles; from the blood into the brain tissue. The radioactive particles are `` tagged" to a drug that flows into the brain. These particles come from the radioactive decay of the element Technetium; TC99. The SPECT Gamma camera system collects these particles and passes them complex system which reconstructs a working image of the brain. This snapshot view of the imagination is referred to as a functional image. SPECT is an abbreviation of this process described above:
Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography.
Advances in the field of nuclear medicine over the past 30 years have improved the image quality with these cameras through the modifications of both the camera design and the radiopharmaceuticals developed. The triple headed camera designed by Picker-Marconi is the one that Dr. Kohn uses. Images are acquired in less than thirty minutes with excellent visualization of the cortex and sub-cortical regions of interest.
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