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Efficacy in diagnosis
When clinical features are not clear, as is often the case in early presentation of
Parkinsonian syndromes,
DaTSCAN may help the diagnostic process by detecting
loss of dopamine transporters. [1] In a study of 118 patients with clinically uncertain
Parkinsonian syndromes, DaTSCAN increased neurologists' confidence
in the diagnosis of presynaptic PS.[2]
This study suggests that DaTSCAN may provide an earlier accurate diagnosis that would otherwise only be possible after two years standard 'watch and wait' strategy.[3]
It is for this reason the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
recommends the
use of DaTSCAN in clinically uncertain cases where tremor is present.[4]
use of DaTSCAN in clinically uncertain cases where tremor is present.[4]
1. Benamer HTS et al. Mov Disord 2000; 3: 503-10
2. Catafau A and Tolosa E. Mov Disord 2004; 19: 1175-82
3. Tolosa E, Vander Dorght T, Moreno E. Mov Disord 2007; 22: 2346-51
4. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence; Clinical Guideline 35: Parkinson's disease:
Diagnosis and management in primary and secondary care, June 2006
2. Catafau A and Tolosa E. Mov Disord 2004; 19: 1175-82
3. Tolosa E, Vander Dorght T, Moreno E. Mov Disord 2007; 22: 2346-51
4. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence; Clinical Guideline 35: Parkinson's disease:
Diagnosis and management in primary and secondary care, June 2006
