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Neurology (Expert Forum)
The SPECT scan on a brain tumor patient
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The SPECT scan on a brain tumor patient
by Randy__0__0, Dec 14, 1998 12:00AM
My son is 17. Eight years ago he had a Juvenile Pylocytic Astrocytoma in the cerebellum. After two surgeries the tumor was gone and didn't recur. Now he is having learning problems, slow reader, trouble with concepts, etc. He has worked VERY hard to get good grades but his ACT and SAT scores were disapointingly low. He is having trouble getting into collage and if the SPECT scan shows damage the schools are willing to give him some additional help. We want to know if a SPECT scan will tell us if his difficulty is due to brain damage?
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Dear Randy,
thank you for your question. First of all, JPA has one of the best, if not the best prognosis, of all brain tumor. Surgery is curative in many cases. It looks like your son has a cognitive difficulty. THis is not likely due to a cerebellar tumor or a residual of one.
SPECT scan evolved from PET, utilizes isotopes to study cerebral blood flow and tissue metabolism of glucose and amino acids. It is more widely available (although still very limited and its clinical usefulness has yet to be fully realized) than PET scan.In your son's case, the SPECT may very well show abnormality of metabolism in certain areas of the brain. If your son has not been evaluated by a neuropsychologist, I suggest that one is consulted and the problem better defined.
Good luck and Ihope the above information helps.
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Dear Randy,
thank you for your question. First of all, JPA has one of the best, if not the best prognosis, of all brain tumor. Surgery is curative in many cases. It looks like your son has a cognitive difficulty. THis is not likely due to a cerebellar tumor or a residual of one.
SPECT scan evolved from PET, utilizes isotopes to study cerebral blood flow and tissue metabolism of glucose and amino acids. It is more widely available (although still very limited and its clinical usefulness has yet to be fully realized) than PET scan.In your son's case, the SPECT may very well show abnormality of metabolism in certain areas of the brain. If your son has not been evaluated by a neuropsychologist, I suggest that one is consulted and the problem better defined.
Good luck and Ihope the above information helps.
