Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 19, 2026
Identification of Disease-related Spatial Covariance Patterns using Neuroimaging Data
Published on: June 26, 2013
Voxel-based analysis of normal cerebral [18F]FDG uptake during childhood using statistical parametric mapping
Kevin London1, Robert Howman-Giles2
1Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia; Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, Sydney Medical School, Edward Ford Building, Fisher Road, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Brain glucose metabolism in children changes significantly throughout development. This study reveals specific brain regions with increasing (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) uptake during childhood, highlighting the need for age-matched controls in pediatric neuroimaging research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatric Imaging
- Metabolic Brain Imaging
Background:
- The developmental trajectory of cerebral glucose metabolism in children is not fully elucidated.
- Understanding age-related changes in (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) uptake is crucial for accurate interpretation of pediatric brain scans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of age on regional cerebral FDG uptake in children using voxel-based analysis.
- To map specific areas of changing FDG metabolism throughout childhood development.
Main Methods:
- Voxel-based analysis of dedicated cerebral FDG PET scans in 28 children aged 11 months to 16 years.
- Subjects were healthy children without CNS involvement or confounding medical conditions.
- FDG uptake was normalized to whole-brain mean uptake.
Main Results:
- Increased FDG uptake with age was observed in the premotor/prefrontal cortices, insula, cingulate cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus, and cerebellum.
- Specific increases were also noted in parts of the inferior temporal lobes and left Heschl's gyrus.
- Findings support that typical adult cerebral FDG patterns are not established by one year of age and evolve throughout childhood.
Conclusions:
- Cerebral FDG uptake patterns in children undergo significant changes during development, reflecting neurodevelopmental processes.
- Age-specific adjustments or age-matched controls are essential for comparative pediatric neuroimaging studies to prevent bias.
- This research provides detailed regional information on pediatric brain metabolism development.
