Cerebral perfusion changes in schizophrenic patients using Tc-99m hexamethylpropylene amineoxime (HMPAO)

Tc-99m hexamethylpropylene amineoxime (HMPAO) was used to image cerebral perfusion changes in 20 patients with chronic schizophrenia (19 male and 1 female, aged 22-48, at an average age of 29.0). All were being given neuroleptic drugs. Twelve had electroconvulsive therapy. In addition, all had abnormal studies except one, who was normal and had a poor response to treatment. Ventricular dilatation and cerebral atrophy was seen in eleven patients, and 77 focal lesions were detected. Forty-two lesions demonstrated increased HMPAO retention, which was distributed as follows: 26 in the basal ganglia in 14 patients (12 bilateral, 2 unilateral); 10 along the sylvian fissure in the parietotemporal region; and 3 in the frontal and 1 in each of the temporal, parietal, and occipital regions. Thirty-five focal lesions exhibited decreased perfusion: ten parietal, eight frontal, seven temporal, six cerebellar, and four occipital lobes. This study demonstrates the potential value of Tc-99m HMPAO in schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders.