PET and SPECT Scans
 

I am curious as to how many people on this board have had PET or Spect Scans done to confirm their Parkinson's diagnosis. I just e-mailed my doctor to ask him about these scans. I would love to hear your experiences.

3 Spect
 

Evonne,

I've had 3 SPECT scans as part of an ongoing clinical trial. And yes, the scans did confirm my diagnosis.

The link below shows you my first two scans.

http://www.pdblogger.com/jworking/spect-scans.htm

Jean, which tracer did they use? Thanks.

~Zucchini

Jean,

Thanks for sharing your info. I am pretty new to this whole PD thing. If you read some of my previous posts you will get a bigger picture. I have not been officially diagnosed. I am on a trial of meds and I am responding. I was told that it was about 90% certain that I have PD if I responded to the meds. That is what I am left with. I am 33 and looking for something more concrete. It is strange though because I have so many PD symptoms, especially the rigidity. I think that I may be in a certain amount of denial. If there was something that solidified the diagnosis, it would be easier to accept. I just keep asking myself it this could be something else.

As I recall it is a iodine isotope. PET scans must be looked at with suspicion, in that the isotope has a 24 hour half-life. Operator competence is an issue too. There are two nuclear programs that make the isotope, thats my understanding anyway, UCLA and a facility in NYC.

Charlie

if i remember correctly...
 

the isotope is called: beta-CIT

and yes i believe it's an iodine isotope - we had to drink some nasty stuff to protect our thyroid.

the test was at Yale at the IND - those folks are terrific.

keep on asking
 

Evonne

You keep on asking and exploring!! that's the right thing to do.

I had a DATScan ...
 

http://www.epda.eu.com/medInfo/medIn...alDevices.shtm

to confirm my dx. Was essential for insurance companies to pay out as they would not accept clinical dx alone, (due to my age).

Don't understand the difference between Pet and Dat scans, but same principle, isotope injected, radioactive substance clings to dopamine neurons, analysis of "clinging" shows status of dopamine neurons and hence enables PD dx.

Neil.