Dopamine transporter SPECT imaging in Parkinson?s disease and parkinsonian disorders

Akdemİr Ü. Ö., Bora H. A., Atay L. Ö.

TURKISH JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES, vol.51, no.2, pp.400-410, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Review
  • Volume: 51 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.3906/sag-2008-253
  • Journal Name: TURKISH JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.400-410
  • Keywords: Dopamine transporter, 123I-ioflupane, SPECT, Parkinson?s disease, parkinsonian disorders, EUROPEAN MULTICENTER DATABASE, EANM PROCEDURE GUIDELINES, FP-CIT SPECT, I-123-FP-CIT SPECT, DIFFERENTIAL-DIAGNOSIS, STRIATAL DOPAMINE, VASCULAR PARKINSONISM, HEALTHY CONTROLS, QUANTIFICATION, SYSTEM
  • Gazi University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The dopamine transporter (DAT) imaging provides an objective tool for the assessment of dopaminergic function of presynaptic terminals which is valuable for the differential diagnosis of parkinsonian disorders related to a striatal dopaminergic deficiency from movement disorders not related a striatal dopaminergic deficiency. DAT imaging with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) can be used to confirm or exclude a diagnosis of dopamine deficient parkinsonism in cases where the diagnosis is unclear. It can also detect the dopaminergic dysfunction in presymptomatic subjects at risk for Parkinson?s disease (PD) since the reduced radiotracer binding to DATs in striatum is already present in the prodromal stage of PD. This review covers the rationale of using DAT SPECT imaging in the diagnosis of PD and other parkinsonian disorders, specifically focusing on the practical aspects of imaging and routine clinical indications.