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What Does This DAT Scan Result Specify For A Parkinson S Patient?
I had a DAT scan for Parkinson s on 2/27/2015. The radiologist read the scan and said the following: The scan findings are suggestive of dysfunction of the dopamine transporters in the bilateral putamina, right worse than left, suggestive of Parkinson disease. I went off Lithium after 2/27/2015, and stopped it by 4/2015 (I had been on 2400 mg daily for over 8 years) for a misdiagnosed case of bipolar disorder . I repeated the DAT scan on 12/8/2015 and the Radiologist said the following for this scan: Persistent decreased dopamine transporter activity in the right striatum. Compared to scan in 2/2015, this is improved. What does Persistent decreased dopamine transporter activity in the right striatum. mean? I have a slight Essential Tremor (extremely slight), but would this SLIGHT ET account for any dopamine issues, or is this more likely a persistence of the effects of Lithium?
Fri, 20 May 2016
Hi,
thank you for providing the brief history of you.
As you have undergone the scan and the scan reports says, there is a disruption in the dopamine transportation. As the dopamine is a chemical substance in the brain, the reduction in the transportation activity of dopamine will lead to tremors and rigidity. To understand here than parkinson disease and parkinsonism are slightly different conditions with little of changes.
Also, the scan says, the right side is more affected than the last time. This is more of the ageing related issue in my practical knowledge. As the degenerative changes occuring in the brain may lead to changes in the dopamine transportation.
Also, having a neurological clinical examination should help correlate the scan report with the clinical findings and later the drug therapy will be initiated. As you have a least of the tremor a dosage of dopamine might be required but it is totally clinical approach based.
In my clinical practice, patients with parkinsons disease require neurological examination and drug therapy followed by this physical therapy is initiated to improve the functional skills.
Regards
Jay Indravadan Patel
thank you for providing the brief history of you.
As you have undergone the scan and the scan reports says, there is a disruption in the dopamine transportation. As the dopamine is a chemical substance in the brain, the reduction in the transportation activity of dopamine will lead to tremors and rigidity. To understand here than parkinson disease and parkinsonism are slightly different conditions with little of changes.
Also, the scan says, the right side is more affected than the last time. This is more of the ageing related issue in my practical knowledge. As the degenerative changes occuring in the brain may lead to changes in the dopamine transportation.
Also, having a neurological clinical examination should help correlate the scan report with the clinical findings and later the drug therapy will be initiated. As you have a least of the tremor a dosage of dopamine might be required but it is totally clinical approach based.
In my clinical practice, patients with parkinsons disease require neurological examination and drug therapy followed by this physical therapy is initiated to improve the functional skills.
Regards
Jay Indravadan Patel
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