FDG-PET in suspected dementia with Lewy bodies: a case report

BACKGROUND: Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is still underdiagnosed or mistaken for other types of neurodegenerative diseases. Biomarkers such as 18-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET) can be helpful. CASE PRESENTATION: A 72-year-old gentleman presented with postural hypotension, hallucination, Parkinsonism and recurrent falls. He also had rapidly progressing cognitive impairment. CT and MRI brain showed atrophy of the frontal lobes with preservation of the hippocampi. FDG-PET was suggestive of DLB. He was subsequently treated with Rivastigmine, with significant improvement of his symptoms. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the challenges in diagnosis of an elderly patient with DLB, the use of neuro-imaging as a diagnostic biomarker, the avoidance of the use of antipsychotic and the response to pharmacological treatment with Rivastigmine after a probable diagnosis of DLB.