[Brain glucose metabolism in a patient with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease measured by positron emission tomography].

Sequential measurements of local cerebral glucose metabolism were performed in a case with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The diagnosis was based on the characteristic clinical symptoms and EEG. Cerebral glucose metabolism (CMRGlc) was measured by positron emission tomography (PET) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose. CMRGlc was decreased to about 45% of the normal value. At that time, X-ray CT revealed little brain atrophy. The decrease of CMRGlc was prominent in cerebral cortices, but the metabolic decrease was slight in striatal body, cerebellum, and brainstem. The motor cortex and occipital lobe showed relatively preserved metabolism among the cerebral cortices. Six months after the first PET measurement, X-ray CT showed marked brain atrophy. Decrease of cerebral glucose metabolism advanced furthermore. However, the progress of the decrease was relatively small in the basal ganglia, brainstem, and cerebellar nucleus. These findings differ from the findings that was known by pathological study. These results suggest that measurement of CMRGlc by PET is useful for the early detection and for understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease.