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Cerebral glucose metabolism change in patients with complex regional pain syndrome: a PET study

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to examine abnormalities of the central nervous system in patients with chronic pain who were diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).

Materials and methods

Brain activity was assessed using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. The data collected from 18 patients were compared with data obtained from 13 normal age-matched controls.

Results

Our results showed that glucose metabolism was bilaterally increased in the secondary somatosensory cortex, mid-anterior cingulated cortex (ACC) or posterior cingulated cortex (PCC) (or both), parietal cortex, posterior parietal cortex (PPC), and cerebellum as well as in the right posterior insula and right thalamus in our patients. In contrast, glucose metabolism was reduced contralaterally in the dorsal prefrontal cortex and primary motor cortex. Glucose metabolism was bilaterally elevated in the mid-ACC/PCC and the PPC, which correlated with pain duration.

Conclusion

These data suggested that glucose metabolism in the brains of patients with CRPS changes dramatically at each location. In particular, glucose metabolism was increased in the areas concerned with somatosensory perception, possibly due to continuous painful stimulation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Shouwa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan

    Satoe Shiraishi, Katsuhiko Kato, Shingo Iwano, Masanari Nishino & Takeo Ishigaki

  2. Department of Radiology, Fujita Health University Graduate School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan

    Hidetoshi Kobayashi

  3. Department of Radiology, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Aichi, Japan

    Takashi Nihashi

  4. Department of Radiology, Nagoya University School of Health Sciences, Nagoya, Japan

    Mitsuru Ikeda

  5. Department of Brain Science and Molecular Imaging, National Institute for Longevity Sciences, Aichi, Japan

    Takashi Kato & Kengo Ito

  6. Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, Japan

    Tomomasa Kimura

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  1. Satoe Shiraishi
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  2. Hidetoshi Kobayashi
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  3. Takashi Nihashi
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Correspondence to Satoe Shiraishi.

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Shiraishi, S., Kobayashi, H., Nihashi, T. et al. Cerebral glucose metabolism change in patients with complex regional pain syndrome: a PET study. Radiat Med 24, 335–344 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-006-0035-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-006-0035-0

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