Differential diagnosis of parkinsonian syndromes using molecular imaging: an in vivo [99mTc]TRODAT-1 and SPECT study

Abstract

Since the XIX century until today in vivo diagnosis of Parkinson´s Disease (PD) relies solely on clinical criteria. In many situations, however, even expert neurologists may have difficulty in making PD diagnosis since other conditions can share clinical features that resembles PD: Essential tremor, vascular parkinsonism, parkinsonism associated to hydrocephalus, drug-induced parkinsonism, atypical parkinsonism, etc. Structural neuroimaging exams such as magnetic resonance imaging can help in the differential diagnosis of these situations but lacks specificity. With the advent of molecular imaging techniques using radiotracers suitable for dopaminergic system a great advance in PD neuroimaging was possible. Thus, PET and SPECT imaging became important in clinical trials of PD diagnosis and treatment. In this project our primary aim is to evaluate the contribution of [99mTc]TRODAT-1 and SPECT in clinical uncertain cases of PD. With this protocol we intend to demonstrate that this method is a value tool for the identification of patients with and without PD and ultimately implying specific treatment and prognosis outcomes. (AU)