Crossed cerebellar hypermetabolism demonstrated by FDG PET

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Nuclear Medicine
• Epileptology

Background:

• 18F-FDG PET is a crucial tool for localizing epileptogenic zones.
• Crossed cerebellar hypometabolism is a known phenomenon in epilepsy.
• Crossed cerebellar hypermetabolism is an infrequently reported finding.

Observation:

• A middle-aged woman presented with subclinical seizures detected via video electroencephalography.
• FDG PET imaging was performed to identify the seizure focus.
• The imaging revealed an unusual finding of crossed cerebellar hypermetabolism.

Findings:

• The observed crossed cerebellar hypermetabolism was transient.
• Metabolic activity in the cerebellum returned to normal after the patient's subclinical seizures were effectively managed.
• This suggests a direct correlation between seizure activity and cerebellar metabolic changes.

Implications:

• This case highlights a rare metabolic pattern in the cerebellum associated with seizure activity.
• It expands the understanding of FDG PET findings in epilepsy.
• Further research may elucidate the mechanisms underlying crossed cerebellar hypermetabolism in seizure disorders.