Structural and functional neuroimaging methods in the diagnosis of dementias: a retrospective chart and brain imaging review

Tanev K, Sablosky M, Vento J, O’Hanlon D

Neurocase 2012 Jun;18(3):224-34

PMID: 21879994

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Assess the contribution of structural and functional neuroimaging methods to the diagnosis of dementia.

METHODS: This was a retrospective chart and imaging review. Participants were 24 inpatient dementia cases from a general hospital-based, university medical psychiatry unit. Data from clinical charts and imaging results were reviewed.

RESULTS: Most common initial diagnoses were dementia NOS and vascular dementia (VD); most common discharge diagnoses were VD, Alzheimer’s, Dementia NOS and dementia with Lewy bodies. Most diagnostic changes occurred following family meetings or SPECT/PET, with fewer changes after CT/MRI.

CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic steps that contributed the most to the final diagnosis were the family meeting and the functional neuroimaging evaluation.