Sleep Apnea & PET Scans

Hello ladies and gentlemen. My question is with regards to whether a PET scan would show abnormalities to a 50 year old with sleep apnea, and where those abnormalities would be most evident.

This gentleman suffered a large blow to the head during a car accident, and has been totally disabled as a result of this. A PET scan demonstrated that he had some abnormalities, and now a different physician is trying to state that the abnormalities are most likely caused by Obstuctive Sleep Apnea. This gentleman has never had symptoms of Sleep Apnea, and now all of a sudden, without having a sleep test performed, the PET Scan abnormalities are being blamed on OSA.

Thank you VERY much in advance for your help.

[Steven Y Park, MD]

It's difficult to prove one way or another. I'm not aware of any studies that diagnose OSA via PET studies. Brain trauma can cause functional deficits on PET scans, but so can long-term obstructive sleep apnea. Being hospitalized and being forced to sleep on his back can also make any underlying sleep apnea worse. Without knowing more specific details about this patient, along with a thorough examination, it's difficult to make an accurate assessment.

[tattooyu]

I wonder if the head trauma has induced some possible central sleep apnea.  What do you think Dr. Park?