Affiliations: Department of Clinical Neurology, University of
Sheffield, UK | Department of Medical Physics, Royal Hallamshire
Hospital, Sheffield, UK | Department of Radiology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital,
Sheffield, UK
Note: [] Department of Medical Physics, Royal Hallamshire Hospital,
Sheffield S10 2JF, UK. Tel.: +44 114 271 2822; Fax: +44 114 271 3403; E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: The incidence and severity of cognitive deficits after surgery for
aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage and their relationship to aneurysm site
remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the pattern of
regional cerebral blood flow which exists in patients one year post-surgery and
to identify whether different patterns exist which may be related to the type
of cognitive deficit or the location of the aneurysm. 62 patients underwent
cognitive assessment and HMPAO SPECT imaging at a mean time of 12 months
following surgery. Results were compared to those from healthy control subjects
(n = 55 for neuropsychological testing; n =
14 for SPECT imaging). In the patient group, significant stable
cognitive deficits occurred in all cognitive domains but no cognitive measure
differentiated aneurysm site. On SPECT images, statistical parametric mapping
identified a large common area of subcortical hypoperfusion in the patient
group as a whole. The findings of this study suggest a possible link between
reduced subcortical function and the extent and severity of cognitive
deficits.
