Regional cerebral blood flow-SPECT “OFF–ON”: A case report of catatonia

• Published in: Revista Española de medicina nuclear e imagen molecular (English ed.) Vol. 33; no. 5; pp. 299 - 301
• Main Authors: Moreno Caballero, M, Corchos González, N, De Antonio Rubio, I, Gómez-Río, M, Guerrero Velázquez, J.F, Rodríguez Fernández, A, Llamas Elvira, J.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier España 01-09-2014
• Subjects: Catatonia; Cerebral blood flow SPECT; Demencia; Dementia; Depressive pseudodementia; Pseudodemencia depresiva; Radiology; SPECT de perfusión cerebral; Depressive pseudodementia; Cerebral blood flow SPECT; SPECT de perfusión cerebral; Catatonia; Pseudodemencia depresiva; Demencia; Dementia
• ISSN: 2253-8089; 2253-8089
• DOI: 10.1016/j.remnie.2014.03.005

Abstract We report the case of a patient with a long history of dysthymia and major depressive episodes requiring repeated hospitalization. We describe the most recent episode, associated with catatonia symptomatology and features suggestive of cognitive impairment. The absence of a clear initial psychopharmacological response alongside the clinical severity made the patient a potential candidate for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). A regional cerebral blood flow SPECT (SPECT-rCBF), performed to rule out concomitant Alzheimer disease (AD), revealed a markedly decreased neocortical uptake, with no definitive pattern of concomitant primary cognitive impairment. Because a gradual clinical improvement was observed in the patient, with evidence of enhanced cerebral reperfusion in a second SPECT-rCBF study at two weeks after admission, the application of ECT was discounted and an expectant attitude was adopted.