Brain ¹⁸F-FDG and ¹¹C-PiB PET findings in two siblings with FTD/ALS associated with the C9ORF72 repeat expansion

Neurocase. 2014 Apr;20(2):150-7. doi: 10.1080/13554794.2012.741252. Epub 2012 Dec 5.

Abstract

The C9ORF72 hexanucleotide expansion is a major pathological expansion pattern found in patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (C9FTD/ALS). We describe a patient in whom early clinical evaluation, MRI and fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) findings failed to definitively differentiate between FTD and Alzheimer's disease (AD), whereas (11)C-Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) PET was negative for amyloid pathology. He later developed ALS symptoms, and post mortem neuropathological findings were diagnostic of FTD-ALS, while no findings suggested AD. His sister was diagnosed with FTD, and the C9ORF72 expansion was detected in both siblings. We conclude that ¹¹C-PiB PET imaging may help the early differential diagnosis between AD and FTD, including C9FTD/ALS.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / genetics
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / pathology
  • Aniline Compounds
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging*
  • Brain / pathology
  • C9orf72 Protein
  • DNA Repeat Expansion
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Frontotemporal Dementia / diagnostic imaging*
  • Frontotemporal Dementia / genetics
  • Frontotemporal Dementia / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Positron-Emission Tomography*
  • Proteins / genetics*
  • Siblings
  • Thiazoles

Substances

  • 2-(4'-(methylamino)phenyl)-6-hydroxybenzothiazole
  • Aniline Compounds
  • C9orf72 Protein
  • C9orf72 protein, human
  • Proteins
  • Thiazoles
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18