Role of 99mTc-ECD SPECT in the Management of Children with Craniosynostosis

PURPOSE OF THE REPORT There is a paucity of data on correlation of various imaging modalities with clinical findings in craniosynostosis. Moreover, no study has specifically reported the role of (99m)Tc-ECD SPECT in a large number of subjects with craniosynostosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS We prospectively analyzed a cohort of 85 patients with craniosynostosis from year 2007 to 2012. All patients underwent evaluation with (99m)Tc-ECD SPECT and the results were correlated with radiological and surgical findings. RESULTS (99m)Tc-ECD SPECT revealed regional perfusion abnormalities in the cerebral hemisphere corresponding to the fused sutures preoperatively that disappeared postoperatively in all the cases. Corresponding to this, the mean mental performance quotient (MPQ) increased significantly (P < 0.05) postoperatively only in those children with absent perfusion defect postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that early surgery and release of craniosynostosis in patients with preoperative perfusion defects (absent on (99m)Tc-ECD SPECT study) are beneficial, as they lead to improved MPQ after surgery.