What is this test suppose to show?

What should I expect?

Also.......any advice when you call the insurance co for precertification and they say you don't need this. (The scheduler said that could happen).

The scheduler also said we's be there 2-3 hours.

I'm not a doctor, but I just had a SPECT done on May 11, 2005 at the University of Kansas Medical Center. First of all, to ease your tensions, it was painless. It was similar to an MRI where they put your head into a tube, but they do have 3 plates that come VERY close to your head and then slowly turn 360 degrees and image your brain.

Prior to this, they put you in a room and let your brain rest, and then they inject you with a radioactive die (this is why it is a nuclear medicine test) that goes through your blood stream.

The SPECT scan (Single-Photon Emission Computerized Tomography) uses radioactive tracers and shows things like vascultis (inflammation of the blood vessels of the brain), decreased neurological activity, decreased blood flow, seizure disorders, trauma, etc. The radioactive dye attaches to the neurons in your brain and shows the activity in the brain.

The difference between this and an MRI is that this is like a video camera and an MRI/CAT scan is like a photo camera taking snap shots. I would warn you though, be ready for the results. I went in and got my results myself and I was pretty crushed. I have multiple areas of moderate or even marked decreased neurological activity and I'm sure it is from the Lyme going on this long causing seizures. My results even said things like it looked like I had trauma to my brain even though I've never hit my head.

The entire test takes about 45 minutes and is pretty easy just gotta sit still and keep you eyes closed because it is much more closterphobic than an MRI.

As far as the insurance goes valeymemom, you can do a presubmission for coverage where you submit it as though you have had the test done, it is called a predetermination, and they should be able to tell you if they will cover it. That is why my insurance told me to do with other tests like this. Mine was covered though. I just got a bill. The test itself was $2,062, thank heavens for insurance. Problem is I lost my job and my insurance runs out in November

Did your docs tell you what they are looking for, i.e. the diagnosis codes? Mine were vasculitis and Lyme disease?

Best of luck to you...we are all in this together!

The actual test itself does not take that long - 25 minutes; however, the dye injection and subsequent settling takes about 45 minutes. My insurance required a referral from a plan doctor, which I had.

The radiologist explained to me that the test examines the lesions on my brain and from it, it can be determined whether my lesions are due to MS or lyme.

With this information in hand, I can start a medication program, since I already tested positive for lyme on an Igenex Western Blot test.

All of the research I have done says that this is a very good test and is one of the few that shows the actual neurological function of the brain and the blood flow to the brain as opposed to an MRI, CAT scan, or MRA which just show the structure of the brain.

Please email me and let me know what your docs have to say. My SPECT was VERY abnormal with many areas of moderate to marked decreased neurological activity. Doesn't sound normal to me...but my neurologist (I call him my proctologist) dismisses it, so I dismissed him - this is a service industry.

Thanks,

jloisu

Good luck - no pain at all and I hope you find answers.