Use of PET Methods for Measurement of Cerebral Energy Metabolism and Hemodynamics in Cerebrovascular Disease

During the last decade, significant advances in the understanding of the pathophysiological mech­ anisms of stroke in humans have been achieved through the use of positron emission tomography (PET) for the measurement of cerebral energy me­ tabolism and hemodynamics (see Reviews by Baron, 1985; Frackowiak, 1985; Powers and Ra­ ichle, 1985; Pawlik et aI., 1985; Ackerman et aI., 1985), Every year, new PET centers begin research programs in stroke, while refinements in present methodology as well as new methods are described, The advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of each method become increasingly difficult to delin­ eate from the available complex literature, while the application in cerebrovascular disease has specific problems. The risks that poor coordination of re­ search and that poor communication of results may develop are therefore real. Following the EEC (European Economic Com­ munity) Workshop on Clinical Efficacy of PET, held in Cologne in October 1986 (Heiss et aI., 1987), it was agreed that an expert workshop would be organized with the aim of establishing guidelines for the implementation and use of PET methods for measuring cerebral hemodynamics and energy me­ tabolism in cerebrovascular disease (CVD), under the auspices of the Commission of the European Communities in Brussels. This workshop would