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Reversible abnormal functional neuroimaging presentations in polycythemia vera with chorea

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Abstract

We report a case of polycythemia vera with chorea in which the brain metabolism and dopamine system were investigated using 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) and 99mTc-labeled tropane dopamine transporter (99mTc-TRODAT-1) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Along with normalization of the hematocrit and clinical symptoms after consecutive phlebotomies, the FDG PET scan and 99mTc-TRODAT-1 SPECT images returned towards normal. It is hypothesized that the development of polycythemia chorea is associated with a reversible alteration in the corticobasal ganglia metabolism and disturbed dopaminergic function.

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Acknowledgments

The study was supported by grants from the Department of Health, Executive Yuan, Taiwan (DOH99-TD-C-111-006), the China Medical University Hospital (DMR-99-190), and the National Science Council (NSC 99-2314-B-039-016-MY2). This study was also supported in part by the Taiwan Department of Health Clinical Trial and Research Centre of Excellence (DOH100-TD-B-111-004).

Conflict of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, China Medical University Hospital, 2, Yuh-Der Road, 404, Taichung, Taiwan

    Hui-Chun Huang, Chon-Haw Tsai & Woei-Cherng Shyu

  2. Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

    Yu-Chin Wu

  3. Division of Hematology-Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Lee-Yung Shih

  4. School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Lee-Yung Shih

  5. Department of Oncology and Hematology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

    Woei-Chung Lo

  6. School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

    Chon-Haw Tsai

  7. Graduate Institute of Neural and Cognitive Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

    Chon-Haw Tsai

  8. Graduate Institute of Immunology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

    Woei-Cherng Shyu

Authors
  1. Hui-Chun Huang
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  2. Yu-Chin Wu
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  3. Lee-Yung Shih
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  4. Woei-Chung Lo
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  5. Chon-Haw Tsai
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  6. Woei-Cherng Shyu
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Chon-Haw Tsai or Woei-Cherng Shyu.

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Huang, HC., Wu, YC., Shih, LY. et al. Reversible abnormal functional neuroimaging presentations in polycythemia vera with chorea. J Neurol 258, 2054–2057 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-011-6069-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-011-6069-y

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