Neuroimaging referral for dementia diagnosis: The specialist s perspective in Ireland
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Journal ArticleDate:
2015Access:
openAccessCitation:
Ciblis AS, Butler ML, Bokde ALW, Mullins PG, O'Neill D, McNulty JP, Neuroimaging referral for dementia diagnosis: The specialist s perspective in Ireland, Alzheimer s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring, 1, 1, 2015, 41 - 47Download Item:
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Abstract:
Background:
Neuroimaging is an increasingly important tool in the diagnostic workup of dementia.
Neurologists, geriatricians, and old-age psychiatrists are involved in key tasks in the diagnostic pro-
cess, frequently referring patients with suspected dementia for neuroimaging.
Methods:
The research design was a postal survey of all geriatricians, old-age psychiatrists, and neu-
rologists in the Republic of Ireland (N
5
176) as identified by the Irish Medical Directory 2011–2012
and supplementary listings.
Results:
Almost 65% of specialists did not have access to 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron
emission (FDG-PET) or FDG-PET/computed tomography (CT), and 80.3% did not have access to
perfusion hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime single-photon emission computed tomography
(SPECT) or dopaminergic iodine-123-radiolabeled 2
b
-carbomethoxy-3
b
-(4-iodophenyl)-N-
(3-fluoropropyl) nortropane SPECT. Most specialists (88.7%) referred patients with mild cognitive
impairment or suspected dementia for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 81.7% referred for CT,
and 26.8% for FDG-PET or FDG-PET/CT. Only 44.6% of respondents were aware of dementia-
specific protocols for referrals for neuroimaging.
Conclusion:
Specialist access to imaging modalities other than CTand MRI is restricted. Improved
access may affect patient treatment and care
Sponsor
Grant Number
European Union (EU)
Author's Homepage:
http://people.tcd.ie/doneillhttp://people.tcd.ie/bokdea
Description:
PUBLISHED
Author: O'NEILL, DESMOND; BOKDE, ARUN
Type of material:
Journal ArticleCollections:
Series/Report no:
Alzheimer s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring1
1
Availability:
Full text availableKeywords:
Dementia, Neuroimaging, Geriatricians, Neurologists, Old-age psychiatrists, Access, MRI, CT, Nuclear medicine imagingSubject (TCD):
Ageing , Neuroscience , Age related diseases , Imaging Techniques , NeuroscienceDOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dadm.2014.11.011Licences: