Pet scan and schizophrenia(dementia praecox) (case study)

Abstract

Neuroimaging research has contributed to the understanding of structural and functional differences between the brains of people suffering from Schizophrenia and those of healthy people. However, the likely pathophysiological heterogenety of Schizophrenia pose major difficulties to research, diferential diagnosis (namely, with Alzheimer-type Dementia) and treatment. In this case study, regarding a female schizophrenic patient, using brain F-18 FDG (5 mCi) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Magnetic Ressonance Imaging (MRI) scans, it is presented the identification of impaired and preserved neural system structure and function.