Reduction of Glucose Metabolism in Basal Ganglia Diagnosed With FDG-PET Scan: A Neuroacanthocytosis Case

Functional neuroimaging and chorea: a systematic review

Chorea is a hyperkinetic movement disorder consisting of involuntary irregular, flowing movements of the trunk, neck or face. Although Huntington’s disease is the most common cause of chorea in adults, chorea can also result from many other neurodegenerative, metabolic, and autoimmune conditions. While the pathophysiology of these different conditions is quite variable, recent advances in functional imaging have enabled the development of new methods for analysis of brain activity and neuronal dysfunction. In this paper we review the growing body of functional imaging data that has been performed in chorea syndromes and identify particular trends, which can be used to better understand the underlying network changes within the basal ganglia. While it can be challenging to identify whether changes are primary, secondary, or compensatory, identification of these trends can ultimately be useful in diagnostic testing and treatment in many of the conditions that cause chorea.

FDG PET brain scan demonstrated glucose hypometabolism of bilateral caudate nuclei and putamina in a patient with chorea-acanthocytosis

Chorea-acanthocytosis is 1 type of neuroacanthocytosis that is a group of rare, hereditary neurodegenerative disorders. We presented a brain FDG PET finding of a 31-year-old woman with chorea-acanthocytosis. The images demonstrated significant hypometabolism in bilateral caudate nuclei and putamina. The finding of FDG PET is more prominent than that of MRI. Another interesting observation is the mildly increased FDG uptake in pituitary gland, although its relationship with the disease is unclear.