The impact of DaTscan on the diagnosis and management of movement disorders: A retrospective study

Abstract

Background: The diagnosis of Parkinson's disease remains a challenge in patients who have abnormal symptoms or show a lack of response to medication. The imaging technique, DaTscan, can be used to visualize dopamine degeneration in the nigro-striatum, which is associated with Parkinsonian Syndrome. We examined the use of the DaTscan in diagnosis, confidence in diagnosis, and clinical management.

Methods: Physicians of 125 patients were contacted to fill out a brief survey about changes in diagnosis, confidence of diagnosis, and clinical management after assessment with the DaTscan.

Results: There was an overall increase in confidence of diagnosis with the results of the DaTscan. Physicians also stated that the DaTscan impacted their diagnosis in 68% of the patients, as well as an impact in the clinical management of 58% of the patients.

Conclusion: The DaTsan can be used as a tool to help diagnose Parkinsonian Syndrome in patients with unclear symptoms.

Keywords: 123I Ioflupane; DaTscan; parkinsonian syndrome.

Figure 1

Representative normal (A) and abnormal (B) scans.

Figure 2

Overall confidence levels before and after DaTscan.

Figure 3

Change in confidence with a normalDaTscan results (A) and change in confidence withabnormal DaTscan results (B).