Posted by Anna Laura on July 16, 2002, at 0:18:20
My SPECT scan showed up basal ganglia hypofunction; i made a search on the net to refresh my old studies on SNC anatomy; basal ganglia it's a deep brain structure mainly involved with motor function and integration: its deterioration is involved in Parkinson Desease ; it might be also involved in anhedonia and apathy syndrome being the richest zone of dopamine receptors : highest receptor density and dopamine "production" (80% percent of brain's dopamine being "produced" there).
The doctor who interpreted my SPECT scan told me the results are consistent with my symptoms (anhedonia and apathy); such results also explained why i didn't respond to conventional AD treatment; i was quite relieved being confident i probably needed some dopaminergic augmentation.
But my relief was short-lasting. I called my current pdoc yesterday and she told me she was expecting a totally different picture (prefrontal lobe hypofunction i suppose); in her opinion basal ganglia hypofunction didn't mean much to her, being inconsistent with my symptoms !!!! (at that point i wanted to scream but i held on).
"But the doctor who saw my SPECT scan told me that the results WERE CONSISTENT with my symptoms" i muttered. "Well, yes, they might be....i should see the scan with my very eyes to give the right interpretation even though i've come to believe your mood disorder could be unrelated to dopamine depletion"- she told me.
I read somewhere basal ganglia hypofunction might be involved with ADHD which i had as a teen-ager and that eventually faded away as a young adult.
I'm 33 years old at the moment and don't have any ADHD symptoms what so ever (thanks god!); i was wondering if the SPECT could have shown some "traces" of my old disorder.
Don't know what to think anymore. I know i shouldn't rely on SPECT scan as a diagnostic tool, but i got so thrilled when i was told there was some objective explanation for my disorder!!!
Any of you guys have more clues/insights? I have an appointment fixed for July 25th and i dodn't know what i should expect anymore!Thanks for listening
poster:Anna Laura
thread:112504
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020709/msgs/112504.html