Development of Regional Cerebral Blood Flow during Childhood Studied with Iodine-123-IMP SPECT

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF)was assessed with single photon emission computed tomograhy (SPECT), I-N-isopropyl-iodoamphetamine ( I-IMP), and the Table-Look-Up method in 51 children (27 boys,24 girls)considered neurologically normal and aged 1 month to 15 years (mean age,4 years 1 month;SD 3 years 11 months)divided into seven age groups. The rCBF was measured in cortical regions, the cerebellum, thalamus, and the head of the caudate nucleus. Curves for reference values and standard deviations were defined for each region. The rCBF rapidly increased until 2 years of age, reaching maximum values during the third to fifth periods (2 to 10 years of age) in each region. The rCBFs then decreased,reaching adult levels at 10 to 15 years of age. The rCBF reached maximum values later in the frontal region than in other regions. The rCBF during the early period increased most prominently in the occipital region. These results reflect anatomical development. The rCBF of each region in the last period revealed no substantial differences from values in adult previously reported. We believe that the developmental changes in rCBF values we obtained are reliable and should increase understanding of normal brain development and pediatric neurological diseases. (Jikeikai Med J 2006;53:87-92)