The importance of PET-CT in the diagnosis of epilepsy/A importância do PET-CT no diagnóstico da epilepsia

• Autor(a) principal: Lima, Camila Barreto
• Data de Publicação: 2020
• Outros Autores: Silva, Marcus Vinicius Cardoso Matos, Pimenta, Rodolfo Macedo Cruz, Silva, Carlos Danilo Cardoso Matos
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Brazilian Journal of Health Review
• Texto Completo: https://ojs.brazilianjournals.com.br/ojs/index.php/BJHR/article/view/18580
• topic: PET-CT; Epilepsy and 18FFGD.

Introduction: PET-CT (Positron Emission Tomography) is an examination composed of a hybrid set of two exams, where CT can define the anatomy of the region studied and the PET scan defines the cellular metabolism with the aid of FFDG. This examination has been used in the monitoring of several pathologies, including epilepsy, and currently in Brazil, 1.2% of the population are carriers of this disease. Objectives: The aim of this study was to review the importance of PET-CT in the detection of epilepsy and to discuss clinical manifestations, to understand the physical principles and to verify the functioning of the PET-CT scan. Methods: Selection of files through the electronic databases LILACS, PubMed / MEDLINE and SciELO using the following descriptors: PET- CT, epilepsy and FFDG, between the years 2005 to 2017, as well as classic articles. Discussion: Epilepsy is a disease that requires caution for diagnosis, because it is necessary not only to listen to the patient, but also to the relatives of the patient, especially during the seizures. PET-CT is the most accurate imaging test. During the examination the FFDG marker allows to evaluate the cerebral metabolism, because in normal cerebral cortex the brain presents a high glucose absorption of the marker, however with the pathological brain the marker glucose level is decreased, thus showing the pathology. However the disadvantages of the examination are the high value and the short half-life of the radiopharmaceutical. Conclusion: The PET-CT scan is really effective in the detection of epilepsy, making it a specific method exam.