Page 1 - Brain PET

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Clin Nucl Med. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2015 February 18.

Published in final edited form as:
Clin Nucl Med. 2014 October ; 39(10): e413–e426. doi:10.1097/RLU.0000000000000547.

Brain PET in the Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease

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Charles Marcus, MBBS , Esther Mena, MD , and Rathan M. Subramaniam, MD, PhD, MPH ‡

Abstract
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Objectives—The aim of this article was to review the current role of brain PET in the diagnosis
of Alzheimer dementia. The characteristic patterns of glucose metabolism on brain FDG-PET can
help in differentiating Alzheimer’s disease from other causes of dementia such as frontotemporal
dementia and dementia of Lewy body. Amyloid brain PET may exclude significant amyloid
deposition and thus Alzheimer’s disease in appropriate clinical setting.
Conclusions—FDG-PET and amyloid PET imaging are valuable in the assessment of patients
with Alzheimer’s disease.

Keywords

FDG brain PET; amyloid brain PET; dementia; Alzheimer’s disease

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After completing this journal-based CME activity, participants will be able to:

NIH-PA Author Manuscript
1. Identify patterns of FDG spatial distribution in brain PET of patients with MCI,
AD, frontotemporal dementia, and dementia of Lewy Body.
2. Identify the value and learn the appropriateness criteria for amyloid brain PET.

Dementia is a collective group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by memory
impairment and cognitive decline, leading to difficulty in performing activities of daily

Copyright © 2014 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
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Reprints: Rathan M. Subramaniam, MD, PhD, MPH, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiology Science, Johns
Hopkins Medical Institutions, 601 N. Caroline St/JHOC 3235, Baltimore MD 21287. rsubram4@jhmi.edu.
The remaining authors and staff in a position to control the content of this CME activity and their spouses/life partners (if any) have
disclosed that they have no other financial relationships with, or financial interests in, any commercial organizations pertaining to this
educational activity.
Lippincott CME Institute has identified and resolved all conflicts of interest concerning this educational activity.