What is amyloid imaging used for?
Several different radiotracers are now approved for use (primarily for research purposes) in the evaluation of patients with cognitive impairment to help ascertain a diagnosis. Amyloid accumulation is characteristic of AD although it can also occur in other neurodegenerative disorders and has been observed in approximately 10% of the normal population. Those patients with mild cognitive impairment who demonstrate a significant amyloid burden on PET imaging are considered to most likely have AD ( Figure 83-11 ). Those patients without significant amyloid burden are more likely to have a different etiology for their cognitive impairment.