Childen's Hospital Boston 300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 355-6000
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My Child Has:
Brain SPECT
Programs that perform this procedure
Comprehensive Brain Malformation Program   Brain Tumor Program  
Division of Nuclear Medicine/PET   Division of Neuroradiology  
What is Brain SPECT?
Brain SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) is a diagnostic imaging technique. It provides images of blood flow in the brain. This imaging technique is very sensitive and can detect changes in brain blood flow associated with seeing, hearing, and thinking. Brain SPECT can detect changes in blood flow within the brain that cannot be seen with other imaging methods. For example, in patients with epilepsy, brain SPECT can localize the region of the brain responsible for seizures, even if the patients MR or CT were normal.

SPECT of the brain is obtained after the intravenous injection of a radiotracer (also called radiopharmaceutical). A common radiopharmaceutical used for brain SPECT is ethyl cysteinate dimer (ECD) labeled with technetium-99m (99mTc). For short, the radiopharmaceutical is called 99mTc-ECD. Technetium-99m has a 6-hour physical half-life. Once 99mTc-ECD is injected, it rapidly localizes in the brain according to blood flow.

Images (SPECT) are obtained 30 minutes after injection using an imaging device called a SPECT scanner (also called a gamma camera). The SPECT device obtains 3-D images of the blood flow in the brain that help physicians diagnose certain disorders.

Why would a doctor request a Brain SPECT?
A Brain SPECT is frequently used to localize the source of epilepsy. Other conditions can also be diagnosed, but they are less frequent.
How to prepare for a Brain SPECT?
  • Arrive on time for you/your child's appointment. Tardiness may result in rescheduling.
  • Actual imaging time will be approximately one half hour, but you/your child should plan to be with us for approximately one and one half hours.
  • Patients are allowed to eat or drink as usual. There are no other special preparations needed.
  • Wear warm and comfortable clothes.
  • If MR and/or CT scans have been done at a facility other than Children's Hospital Boston, please bring those images with you. The nuclear medicine physician will compare the MR and CT scan to the SPECT scan.
  • If you/your child's doctor has given you a requisition for the exam, please bring it with you. If we have to call the doctor's office to get the requisition after you have arrived for the appointment, this will cause a delay in performing the scan.
  • If you/your child is scheduled for sedation or if you think sedation is necessary (to hold still) and a nuclear medicine staff member has not contacted you, please call us at 617-355-7010 for specific instructions.
How is a Brain SPECT performed?
When you arrive, a technologist will greet you and explain the procedure in detail. Obtaining a SPECT scan involves three steps: injection of a radiopharmaceutical, a waiting period, and imaging with the SPECT camera.

Radiopharmaceutical. You/your child will be injected with the radiopharmaceutical. This substance contains very small amounts of radioactive molecules. It will not cause any sensation or negative effects.

Once the radiopharmaceutical reaches the brain, it will transmit signals (gamma rays) that can be detected from outside the body by the SPECT camera.

Waiting period. After the injection, you/your child must wait for 30 minutes.

SPECT scanning. After the waiting period, the technologist will bring you or your child into the SPECT room. You/your child will be asked to lie on the imaging table and remain still while the images are taken. Parents or family members are allowed to sit in the room during imaging. The technologist will be present throughout the procedure. You or your child will be in the scanner from 30 minutes. While you/your child lies within the camera, a computer will create images of your brain.

What can be expected during the procedure?
You/your child may experience some discomfort associated with the insertion of the intravenous needle. The needle used for the procedure is small. Once the radiopharmaceutical is injected, the needle is withdrawn and a gauze bandage with adhesive tape is placed over the site of the injection. The area where the injection was given may be a little sore.

Although the camera may appear large and intimidating, it does not touch you/your child.

What happens after the Brain SPECT?
Once the study is complete, it will be evaluated for quality. If there was too much motion, the study may need to be repeated. If there was no motion, you/your child will be free to leave and resume normal activity.
How are the results of the study obtained?
The images will be processed and then the nuclear medicine physician will evaluate and interpret the study and promptly inform you/your child's referring physician of the results.
How can additional information be obtained?
For more information about Nuclear Medicine/PET, please contact us at:

Division of Nuclear Medicine/PET
Children's Hospital Boston
300 Longwood Avenue, Pavilion 2
Boston, MA 02115
Main Number: 617-355-7010
Fax Number: 617-730-0623
Business hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

How is an appointment scheduled?
To schedule an appointment please contact your referring physician as their office must schedule it for you. If you currently have an appointment and need to reschedule or are unable to make the appointment, please call us at least 48 hours in advance at 617-355-7010.
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which can only be given to you by your personal health care professional.
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