Cerebral perfusion changes in chronic dizziness: A single-photon emission computed tomography study.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Chronic dizziness can persist after the initial cause resolves, with unknown mechanisms.
• Cerebral activity alterations are implicated in persistent dizziness.
• Understanding these changes is crucial for managing chronic dizziness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) differences in chronic dizziness patients.
• To compare cerebral changes in patients with and without active vestibular imbalance.
• To elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying persistent dizziness.

Main Methods:

• Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with 99mTc-ethyl cysteinate dimer was used.
• Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured in 35 chronic dizziness patients and healthy controls.
• Voxel-based group comparison analyzed SPECT imaging data.

Main Results:

• Patients with chronic dizziness showed decreased rCBF in the occipital lobe and increased rCBF in the medial/inferior temporal lobes compared to controls.
• Chronic dizziness patients without active vestibular imbalance exhibited increased rCBF in the frontal lobe, including the orbitofrontal cortex.
• These findings highlight distinct cerebral blood flow patterns based on the presence of active vestibular imbalance.

Conclusions:

• This study differentiates rCBF changes in chronic dizziness with and without active vestibular imbalance.
• Sustained dizziness perception may relate to occipital and temporal lobe activity.
• Increased frontal lobe activity might explain dizziness persistence after vestibular imbalance resolution.