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brain MRI versus SPECT?

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Posted 6/4/2017 9:40 PM (GMT 0)
my LLMD has asked I get an MRI due to my Neuro issues.

What's better lyme-wise? an MRI, SPECT or both?

I don't mind doing both if additional information can be gleaned from the SPECT.

Anyone here done a SPECT recently?
Posted 6/4/2017 11:19 PM (GMT 0)
My cousin did a spect showed the hypoperfusion much clearer .they aint cheap but maybe better than contrast shtuff
Posted 6/5/2017 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
ok, I'm calling around for some quotes (cash price) next week I'll post what I find
Posted 6/5/2017 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
My understanding is the spect scan shows blood flow better. I see dr j in D.C. He relies on spect scan v MRI
Posted 6/5/2017 1:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Caramba!

Just a note about a potential problem with MRIs with Contrast. They use the heavy metal Gadolinium to give the contrast in the image. There is new medical and scientific evidence that proves even normal kidneys do not flush all the Gadolinium out of your system. A body may retain about 1% of the Gd. I have had several MRIs with contrast over the years and am now have heavy toxicity for Gd. Toxicity causes a lot of nerve damage in various places in the body, particularly in the extremities and brain. I just learned of this a year ago which has helped explain some of my ailments over the years. I urge you to do a search on Gadolinium Toxicity before you have an MRI with contrast. The doctors and technicians seem oblivious to this issue.

I have had Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever twice and Lyme once in the last 10 years. I got over the RSMF OK, not sure about Lyme.

All the best!
Posted 6/5/2017 3:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Florida Boy!
Welcome to our community! I'm so glad you found us.

If you haven't yet, please do read through our "new to Lyme" thread, as it's packed with helpful and important information.

And, of course, thank you for your input on this topic. I've had only one MRI with contrast - and I know I didn't feel so good for a while afterwards, so I haven't had another one.

I did have a SPECT scan done several years ago, and it showed a significant lowered blood perfusion in 2 areas of my brain at the time. Interestingly enough, when I looked those areas up, I discovered that they correlated perfectly with the areas of the brain that control the areas of the body that I was having the most issues with at the time.
Posted 6/5/2017 8:11 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, In getting prices I had to clarify, and my doc wants the MRI without contrast. FYI my best cash price for the MRI was 400, I scheduled it for tomorrow smile

now, I am confused on SPECT. everything I read is that is available and less expensive than PET scan but none of the imaging places I called perform it. Is it just a specialized CT Scan that any CT Scanning place can do?

one place initially gave me a price, and when I called back to schedule it they said they didn't do them.
I said 'S-P-E-C-T Scan' nope.. ???

googling SPECT comes back mostly with phychriatic clinics following Amen's (questioned) use of SPECT.

my other concerned (I am in Texas), do I need to do a SPECT or PET on the east coast with a Radiologist who is familiar with Lyme? my fear is that here, I'll get - It's Normal..

Thanks for the feedback thus far!
Posted 6/5/2017 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
SPECT is typically done through Nuclear Medicine. So if you are calling CT places, they would not do Brain SPECTs.

Part of the higher cost of PET is it's a combination of 2 modalities (Nuclear Medicine and CT) and they also use a different radioisotope.

SPECT/PET is generally used to measure the function of organs compared to MRI. Like others have mentioned, a SPECT will show better blood flow than an MRI. Neither use Gadolinium like MRI, so no worries about metal toxicity. And of course, your imaging report is only as good as the radiologist reading it.

Hopefully, this helped with some confusion and all the best to you!
Posted 6/5/2017 10:04 PM (GMT 0)
that helps a lot thanks! OptimisTick smile
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