LEARN NUCLEAR MEDICINE
Neurology · Case 08
Read the history, inspect the study, then reveal the teaching.
IMAGE PLACEHOLDER · Diagnostic study
Original study · Companion image placeholders
Clinical history
A 68-year-old male is in the hospital with suspected Parkinson’s disease. Nuclear Medicine Datscan was performed to differentiate Parkinsonian syndrome from a non-Parkinson syndrome. His imaging studies are shown below.
Read the images before opening the teaching panel below.
Parkinsonian Syndrome
Imaging Findings
Decreased dopamine receptor uptake within the bilateral putamen with, preservation of uptake within the caudate heads bilaterally.
Essential Facts
Parkinson’s Disease is a neurodegenerative condition that results in progressive dopaminergic neuron loss in the substantia nigra.
Both cognitive and motor deficits can be seen in this condition.
This scan initially shows decreased dopamine transporter density in the striatum which subsequently progresses to involve the caudate head as the disease progress secondary to neuronal loss.
References
“Central Nervous System.” Essentials of Nuclear Medicine Imaging, by Fred A. Mettler and Milton J. Guiberteau, Elsevier Saunders, 2012, pp. 71–97.