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What Does This PET Scan Of Brain Showing Decreased Metabolic Activity Indicate?

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Posted on Tue, 13 May 2014
Question: SIGNIFICANT REDUCED METABOLIC ACTIVITY WITHIN THE LEFT PARIETAL TEMPORAL, LEFT ANTERIOR AND RIGHT POSTERIOR CINGULATE, AND RIGHT ANTEROLATERAL POSTERIOR TEMPORAL CORTEX; this was indicated from the reading on a Pet Scan; I believe this resulted from antidepressant and ECT treatment; what if anything can be done to correct this; I am suffering from daily frontal headaches, anhedonia, as well as other ailments.
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Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (4 hours later)
Brief Answer: Depression causes hypometabolic activity in brain Detailed Answer: Hello XXXXXX Thanks for writing to HCM Yes,Depression is commonly associated with hypometabolic activity in certain regions of the brain.You need regular antidepressants to prevent further damage to brain.It is not proved that it will reverse the abnormalities that are already present. However there are also other reasons for decreased metabolic activity in brain like ischemic reasons.Ischemia may be due to various systemic illnesses like hypertension ,diabetes mellitus,altered lipid profile etc.So,these causes should be screened and if there is any abnormality,it should be corrected. Frontal headache may be due to many reasons.It may be due to refractive error,sinusitis,tension etc.You need proper evaluation by neurologist. Get well soon. Hope I have answered your question. Further queries are most welcome. Take Care Dr.Indu XXXXXXX
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. Indu Kumar

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Practicing since :2004

Answered : 6728 Questions

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What Does This PET Scan Of Brain Showing Decreased Metabolic Activity Indicate?

Brief Answer: Depression causes hypometabolic activity in brain Detailed Answer: Hello XXXXXX Thanks for writing to HCM Yes,Depression is commonly associated with hypometabolic activity in certain regions of the brain.You need regular antidepressants to prevent further damage to brain.It is not proved that it will reverse the abnormalities that are already present. However there are also other reasons for decreased metabolic activity in brain like ischemic reasons.Ischemia may be due to various systemic illnesses like hypertension ,diabetes mellitus,altered lipid profile etc.So,these causes should be screened and if there is any abnormality,it should be corrected. Frontal headache may be due to many reasons.It may be due to refractive error,sinusitis,tension etc.You need proper evaluation by neurologist. Get well soon. Hope I have answered your question. Further queries are most welcome. Take Care Dr.Indu XXXXXXX