Published on Aug. 14, 2014
Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects approximately one in every 100 people over the age of 60. In the past, diagnosing this common movement disorder often relied on clinical evaluations, blood tests, and brain imaging studies. Unfortunately, results could be inconclusive because there was no definitive way to distinguish Parkinson’s disease and related disorders from other conditions with similar symptoms.
As a result, patients sometimes faced delays in receiving an accurate diagnosis and starting the most effective treatment. Today, that is changing thanks to an advanced imaging technology called DaTscan.
A New Tool for Earlier, More Accurate Diagnosis
Specialists at Orange Coast Medical Center are using DaTscan, a nuclear imaging test, to evaluate patients with suspected parkinsonian syndromes, including Parkinson’s disease.
One of the test’s greatest benefits is its ability to help differentiate Parkinson’s disease from essential tremor, a condition that can appear similar but requires a very different treatment approach. “Although Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor both involve involuntary shaking movements that are similar, these disorders require very different treatments,” says Daniel Truong, M.D., a internationally known neurologist and medical director of The Parkinson’s and Movement Disorder Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center. “DaTscan allows us to rule out essential tremor and other non-parkinsonian conditions, which can help lead to a more accurate and timely diagnosis and treatment.”
Why Accurate Diagnosis Matters
Before DaTscan became available, patients with suspected Parkinson’s disease could wait up to six years to receive a correct diagnosis.
Today, when combined with other clinical evaluations, DaTscan can help reduce the diagnostic timeline from years to just weeks. This allows patients to begin appropriate treatment sooner and gain a better understanding of their condition.
What Is DaTscan?
DaTscan uses single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), a specialized type of nuclear imaging that provides detailed images of the brain.
How the Procedure Works
The process includes several steps:
- A radiopharmaceutical tracer is injected into the patient’s bloodstream through an IV.
- The tracer travels to areas of the brain involved in dopamine activity.
- A specialized gamma camera captures detailed 3D images of the brain.
- Physicians analyze the images to evaluate the dopamine transporter (DaT) system.
Dopamine is an essential brain chemical that helps regulate movement and muscle function. Changes in dopamine activity can provide important clues about Parkinson’s disease and related disorders.
How DaTscan Detects Changes in the Brain
DaTscan can reveal changes in brain chemistry, including a deficiency of dopamine, which is commonly associated with Parkinson’s disease and other parkinsonian disorders.
These findings can help physicians distinguish Parkinson’s disease from essential tremor and other non-parkinsonian conditions that may present with similar symptoms. “Patients with PD typically begin to experience symptoms of the disease after losing 80 percent of the dopamine in their basal ganglia, the region of the brain involved in motor control and movement,” says Truong. “Often, the initial symptoms of the disease are vague, making diagnosis extremely challenging. DaTscan is a step in the right direction. It assists doctors in differentiating between movement disorders that share PD-like symptoms.”
The Importance of Specialist Expertise
Dr. Truong emphasizes that DaTscan studies should be interpreted by specialists with extensive experience evaluating Parkinson’s disease imaging. “Experience is a key factor to accurately interpreting these imaging results,” he explains.
Having experts review the scans helps ensure patients receive the most accurate diagnosis possible.
FDA-Approved Technology for Parkinson’s Evaluation
DaTscan has been available in Europe for more than a decade and has been used to evaluate nearly 300,000 patients across 32 countries.
The technology is now available in the United States following approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved DaTscan for use in this country,” says Truong. “It is the first diagnostic imaging technique approved by the FDA for evaluation of PD and other parkinsonian movement disorders.”
Benefits of DaTscan for Patients
DaTscan provides several important advantages for individuals experiencing symptoms of a movement disorder:
- Helps distinguish Parkinson’s disease from essential tremor
- Supports a faster and more accurate diagnosis
- Reduces uncertainty for patients and families
- Assists physicians in developing appropriate treatment plans
- Complements clinical evaluations and other diagnostic tools
Moving Toward Earlier Parkinson’s Disease Detection
For patients experiencing tremors or other movement-related symptoms, obtaining a clear diagnosis is an important first step toward effective treatment. Advanced imaging technologies like DaTscan are helping specialists identify Parkinson’s disease more accurately and efficiently, giving patients greater confidence and access to the care they need sooner.
