Evaluating atypical dementia syndromes using positron emission tomography with carbon 11-labeled Pittsburgh compound B

Abstract

Context: A progressive decline in episodic memory affecting activities of daily living is the usual clinical presentation of Alzheimer disease. However, patients presenting with atypical or focal clinical symptoms such as language or visuospatial dysfunction often pose a diagnostic challenge. Objective: To explore the presence and topography of β amyloid (Aβ) as measured by carbon 11-labeled Pittsburgh Compound B (11C-PiB) in patients with atypical presentations of dementia. Design, Setting, and Participants: At a tertiary referral center for memory disorders, 15 healthy controls, 10 patients with Alzheimer disease, a patient with primary progressive aphasia (PPA), and a patient with posteri..