Neuroimaging referral for dementia diagnosis: The specialist's perspective in Ireland

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  • A.S. Ciblis
  • M.L. Butler
  • L.W. Bokde
  • P.G. Mullins
  • D. O'Neill
  • J.P. McNulty
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 process, frequently referring patients with suspected dementia for neuroimaging. Methods: The research design was a postal survey of all geriatricians, old-age psychiatrists, and neurologists in the Republic of Ireland (N5176) 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 2b-carbomethoxy-3b-(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 dementiaspecific protocols for referrals for neuroimaging. Conclusion: Specialist access to imaging modalities other than CT and MRI is restricted. Improved access may affect patient treatment and care..
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)41-47
JournalAlzheimer's and Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment and Disease Monitoring
Volume1
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 Mar 2015

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