Objectives:The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics and differences of brain function in pervasive developmental disorder and developmental language disorder.
Method:The subjects were composed of 14 cases of pervasive developmental disorder and 13 cases developmental language disorder. They were investigated by technitium-99m-EDC SPECT. All SPECT were visually assessed by two nuclear medicine specialists, and then quantified by region of interest including temporal, parietal cortex, thalamus, basal ganglia and cerebellum.
Result:In both groups, cerebral blood flow was decreased in the temporal, parietal cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus, cerebellum by visual assessment. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups by quantitative and qualitative assessment.
Conclusion:These results suggest that pervasive developmental disorder and developmental language disorder are caused by defects in the interneural connection and that both disorders are spectrum disorders.