Abstract

DORUYTER, Alexander G.G.; PARKES, Jeannette; CARR, Jonathan  and  WARWICK, James M.. PET-CT in brain disorders: The South African context. S. Afr. J. radiol. (Online) [online]. 2021, vol.25, n.1, pp.1-9. ISSN 2078-6778.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajr.v25i1.2201.

Positron emission tomography combined with X-ray computed tomography (PET-CT) has an established role in the management of brain disorders, but may be underutilised in South Africa. Possible barriers to access include the limited number of PET-CT facilities and the lack of contemporary guidelines for the use of brain PET-CT in South Africa. The current review aims to highlight the evidence-based usage of brain Positron emission tomography (PET) in dementia, movement disorders, brain tumours, epilepsy, neuropsychiatric lupus, immune-mediated encephalitides, and brain infections. While being areas of research, there is currently no clinical role for the use of PET-CT in traumatic brain injury or in psychiatric or neurodevelopmental disorders. Strategies to expand the appropriate use of PET-CT in brain disorders are discussed in this article.

Keywords : brain; positron emission tomography; F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose; F-18 fluoro-dihydroxyphenylalanine; dementia; brain tumour; Parkinson's disease.

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