Multi-modality molecular imaging characteristics of dementia with Lewy bodies

Objective Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a common type of neurodegenerative dementia. Molecular neuroimaging using dopamine transporter (DaT), Pittsburgh compound B (PIB), and fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) has advantages in detecting dopaminergic neuron loss, abnormal amyloid β-protein deposition, and glucose metabolism changes in patients with neurodegenerative disorders. However, the multi-modality molecular imaging features of patients with DLB have rarely been reported. Methods Five patients with a probable diagnosis of DLB were enrolled. PET/magnetic resonance imaging was performed with three tracers: ¹¹C-β-CFT, ¹¹C-PIB, and ¹⁸F-FDG. Clinical and imaging characteristics were analyzed. Results All patients with DLB showed reduced uptake in the bilateral putamen on DaT PET, increased uptake throughout the cerebral cortex on PIB PET, and intact metabolism of the posterior cingulate gyrus on FDG PET. Conclusion Multimodal molecular imaging is helpful for early diagnosis of DLB. Studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm the molecular imaging differences between DLB and Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease dementia.