Vol 6, No 1 (2003)
Brief communication
Published online: 2003-01-03
The usefulness of CBF brain SPECT in forensic medicine: the civil law code cases. A description of four cases
Nucl. Med. Rev 2003;6(1):45-47.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of this report was to assess the usefulness
of cerebral blood flow (CBF) scanning utilising the
SPECT technique in forensic medicine cases in the area of civil
law cases.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: CBF SPECT scanning was performed in four patients utilising 99mTc-ECD and a triple-head gammacamera. In the analysis both the asymmetry index and cerebellar normalisation were applied. Reference values were obtained by studying 30 healthy volunteers.
RESULTS: In those cases CBF SPECT scanning played an important role in forensic argument. It influenced the sentence and the amount of financial compensation.
CONCLUSIONS: CBF SPECT scanning may provide valuable information in forensic medicine argument in civil law cases, but only when taken together with psychometric tests and other neuroimaging methods (CT, MRI). The value of CBF SPECT scanning alone may be limited in judicial proceedings.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: CBF SPECT scanning was performed in four patients utilising 99mTc-ECD and a triple-head gammacamera. In the analysis both the asymmetry index and cerebellar normalisation were applied. Reference values were obtained by studying 30 healthy volunteers.
RESULTS: In those cases CBF SPECT scanning played an important role in forensic argument. It influenced the sentence and the amount of financial compensation.
CONCLUSIONS: CBF SPECT scanning may provide valuable information in forensic medicine argument in civil law cases, but only when taken together with psychometric tests and other neuroimaging methods (CT, MRI). The value of CBF SPECT scanning alone may be limited in judicial proceedings.
Keywords: SPECTcerebral blood flowforensic medicine
