RESEARCH BY DETROIT DOCTOR INDICATES SCANNING DEVICE USED ON SMALL ANIMALS IS HELPFUL IN DETECTING BRAIN DISEASE IN INFANTS

Jun 20, 2005 | www.Newsinferno.com Dr. Henry Chugani of Hutzel Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, has found that using micro positron emissions tomography (PET) equipment on small infants weighing less than 2 pounds is possible when using a scanner designed for small animals.

Larger scanners used for adults and older children are imprecise when it comes to very small infants and so Dr. Chugani used his years of conducting animal research at the University of California-Los Angeles to introduce the smaller scanner into the nursery.

After receiving FDA approval last year, the doctor acquired one of the small refrigerator-sized scanners and has used it to conduct tests on some 30 infants. Dr. Chugani has found he is able to pinpoint problems that can reveal the source of epileptic seizures and other brain diseases.

The use of the small scanner is seen as a possible way to discover new forms of infant brain disease and detection methods. At least one epileptic baby has had surgery based on the results of the PET scan.