Several disorders cause parkinsonism as a clinical component of disease. Only about 76% of patients clinically diagnosed as idiopathic Parkinson disease actually have the disease. Meaning up to 25% of us are currently misdiagnosed. I have seen many of those diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease take the PET and get a totally diferrent diagnosis. One of the most noted of these cases was Deborah Setzer.

To have true "Parkinson's Disesae" it must be proven that there is a loss of the dopamine cell. Currently the only ways this can be done is via a FDOPA PET SCAN or a *SPECT SCAN.

*SPECT SCANS are routinely used in Europe as part of the diagnosis.

Parkinsonism is used for those conditions that exhibit Parkinson's Disease "like" symptoms but are not related to dopamie loss. Many of these conditions are much more treatable then Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinsonism Clinical Features

rigidity
bradykinesia
resting tremor
abnormal postural reflexes

Common Causes

idiopathic Parkinson disease
drug-related parkinsonism
Alzheimer disease
progressive supranuclear palsy
multiple system atrophy
Shy-Drager syndrome
olivo-ponto-cerebellar atrophy
striatonigral degeneration

Uncommon causes

hydrocephalus
Wilson disease
cortico-basal degeneration
Huntington disease
Hallervorden-Spatz disease
post-encephalitic parkinsonism
manganese poisoning
carbon monoxide poisoning

Commonly mistaken for Parkinson disease

essential tremor
vascular pseudo-parkinsonism

The Fluorodopa PET Scan

There is a misconception among the Parkinson’s community (patients & doctors) that there is no test that will diagnose Parkinson’s disease. In fact the technology does exist and has for over 15 years. The amino acid [F-18]Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and PET imaging of the basal ganglia is a proven technique in positively diagnosing or “un-diagnosing” Parkinson’s. FDOPA PET images of the brain clearly show if your brain has a deficiency in dopamine synthesis. If it doesn’t, then you do not suffer from Parkinson’s, and your symptoms can be further researched, diagnosed, and treated effectively.

PET images of the brain will show if you have Parkinson’s disease. A labeled amino acid called F-DOPA is used with PET to see if your brain has a deficiency in dopamine synthesis. If it doesn’t, then you do not suffer from Parkinson’s, and your tremor will be treated differently. of disease. As long as the disease is unknown, more tests will be done and more costs will result.

Between July 2002 and December 2002 six previously diagnosed Parkinson’s patients and members of YoungParkinsons.com who pursued this testing were undiagnosed with Parkinson’s. Further information on this is available on the message board at www.youngparkinsons.com.

F-DOPA and FDG PET scans cost $2100 per test. MRI's, the test that almost all PWP's undergo as "routine" costs between $1600 and $1800. Is the $500 cost difference, on average, worth NOT having an F-DOPA PET scan?

Please do the research on this test and encourage your doctor to pursue it for you. Many facilities across the US currently conduct FDOPA PET SCANS. A list of these facilities may be found at: http://www.snidd.org/petsearchresults.cfm?radiotracerid=38

*Print this article in essay form here to take or email to your doctor.

Article & Links

PET Centers that use [F-18]Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)

European Medial Care: Nuclear Medicine (CT, MRI and PET Scan)

HealthCenter.com

UCLA's PET Brochure

CTI: PET & Parkinsn's Disease

Alliance For Health

Rex Healthcare

WebMD

PET Imaging: New Jersey