The PET/CT room of the First Affiliated Hospital (FAH) of Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU) has successfully pioneered the clinical application of β-amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) imaging technology in northwest China. This technology is used for the full-cycle assessment of deep cervical lymphatic-venous anastomosis (LVA) for Alzheimer's disease, covering preoperative indication screening and postoperative efficacy monitoring. To date, the PET/CT room has performed over 200 amyloid imaging examinations, with a positive rate exceeding 85%. The successful implementation of this technology signifies a significant milestone achievement for our hospital in the field of precision diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Left: 18F-AV45 PET/CT before treatment showing extensive amyloid protein deposition in the brain
Right: Review of 18F-AV45 PET/CT after 6 months of treatment showing reduced brain amyloid protein
Deep cervical lymphatic-venous anastomosis, as a novel surgical treatment, utilizes precise microsurgical techniques to connect the small lymphatic vessels in the deep neck to adjacent veins, creating a new drainage pathway, thereby enhancing cerebrospinal fluid circulation and the elimination of brain waste.
The application of β-amyloid PET technology is of significant importance for preoperative screening of patients for LVA surgery. This technology can accurately detect the presence of significant β-amyloid deposition in the patient's brain, which is not only a key biomarker for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease but also a critical factor in predicting the effectiveness of LVA surgery. If the patient's brain lacks typical β-amyloid deposition, it suggests that their cognitive symptoms may not be caused by typical Alzheimer's disease, and the significance of performing LVA would be greatly diminished. Therefore, preoperative precise assessment using β-amyloid PET is beneficial for optimizing patient selection, ensuring that surgery is applied to the most suitable and likely to benefit group.
During postoperative follow-up, β-amyloid PET imaging technology can be used for dynamic observation, visually assessing changes in amyloid deposition in the brain after surgery.
In addition to neurodegenerative diseases, the PET-CT Room collaborates with the Department of Hematology to apply β-amyloid PET/CT imaging for patients with rare light chain (AL) amyloidosis. This approach offers unique advantages in early identification of myocardial involvement and assessment of treatment response, while significantly enhancing the diagnostic efficiency of cardiac amyloidosis and supporting precise typing.
This successful implementation of β-amyloid PET imaging technology has significantly improved diagnostic accuracy and clinical applicability.
