18F-FDG Brain PET Findings in Narcolepsy Type 2

Clin Nucl Med. 2022 Aug 1;47(8):e559-e561. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000004264. Epub 2022 May 19.

Abstract

A 16-year-old adolescent boy with extensive travel throughout West Africa presented with a 6-year history of social withdrawal, anhedonia, and daytime sleepiness. The patient's electroencephalography was normal. Initial MRI revealed small pituitary gland and left temporal developmental venous anomaly. Subsequently obtained 18F-FDG brain PET was notable for markedly severe hypometabolism in the brainstem. Further workup revealed a normal orexin, autoimmune encephalitis panel, and negative titers for Trypanosoma brucei and cruzi in the CSF. Outpatient sleep study showed mild obstructive sleep apnea, and multiple sleep latency test revealed reduced mean sleep latency at 7 minutes with sleep-onset REM in 3/5 naps, findings consistent with narcolepsy type 2.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Disorders of Excessive Somnolence*
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Narcolepsy* / diagnostic imaging
  • Polysomnography

Substances

  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18