Repeat SPECT scan of brain

Would a repeat SPECT be of benefit? My last one was in  2006 at Columbia Univ. Lyme Dis Research Ctr, NY. It reported "Moderate to severe, global, cortical hypoperfusion with heterogeneity. The white matter also is involved to a significant extent. This perfusion pattern is consistent with encephalitis or vasculitis, such as from Lyme Disease, Autoimmune causes or secondary to some medications."
What could benefits be? Could one done locally (Anchorage) or closer to home (Amen Clinic, Tacoma, where I have had 2 earlier) be compared to this last one? I have concern that a local dr. may not know what to do with the information in regards to Lyme, or advise on medications changes.

[Garth L Nicolson, PhD]

You need to consult with your physician.  If he/she cannot interpret SPECT scans and offer any benefit from doing this, then it may not help you.

Ideally such procedures are done in conjunction with treatment, so treatment response or progress can be assessed.  Done in isolation, the procedure may not be as useful in helping direct your therapy and evaluating response.

[winfree]

Hi Dr. Nicolson,
The hope in having another SPECT would be to assess treatment response, and advise on therapy. SPECTs are not offered in Anchorage so that is why I would consider the Amen Clinic in Tacoma. They at least saw me before diagnosis with Lyme.

Wouldn't the report of such widespread hypoperfusion be enough to go on to compare current brain activity? I was quite a mess then, having late disseminated. late stage lyme that went undiagnosed for 3.5 years. I have been on oral antibiotics for most of the time since fall, 2005, except 5 months IV ceftriaxone in fall 2006. I have made so much improvement, but still have neuro symptoms creep up when I get off of antibiotics for a few weeks. That is why I wondered if a repeat SPECT with follow-up with the psychiatrist there might benefit my treatment.
Thanks for your response.

[Garth L Nicolson, PhD]

It might be a way to monitor your therapy to see what approach is working.  CNS infections of Borrelia b., as well as Lyme co-infections like M. fermentans are not uncommon, and have been called "neuroborreliosis".  

I would not discount the fact that co-infections like M. fermentans may be causing some of the problem, and this could change your treatment strategy.