Single photon emission computed tomography in the identification of new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: case reports.

New variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease may be associated with exposure to the causative agent of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Currently, a reliable diagnosis is possible only after neuropathological examination of the brain, which is risky for patients and diagnosticians. The sensitivity and specificity of recently developed techniques are not known for new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and they are available only in highly specialised centres. 4 Single photon emission computed tomography is a readily available neuroimaging technique that uses intravenously administered radioactive ligands to map different aspects of brain function. We report the findings on this technique using the cerebral perfusion tracer hexamethylpropyleneamineoxime (HMPAO) in two patients with neuropathologically confirmed new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.