DaT Scan (DaT scan or Dopamine Transporter Scan) commonly refers to a diagnostic method to investigate if there is a loss of dopaminergic neurons in striatum. The term may also refer to a brand name of Ioflupane (123I) which is used for the study. The scan principle is based on use of the radiopharmaceutical Ioflupane (123I) which binds to

dopamine transporter The dopamine transporter (also dopamine active transporter, DAT, SLC6A3) is a membrane-spanning protein that pumps the neurotransmitter dopamine out of the synaptic cleft back into cytosol. In the cytosol, other transporters sequester the dop ...

s (DaT). The signal from them is then detected by the use of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) which uses special gamma-cameras to create a pictographic representation of the distribution of dopamine transporters in the brain. DaTSCAN is indicated in cases of tremor in patients, when we are not sure about its origin. Although this method can distinguish

essential tremor Essential tremor (ET), also called benign tremor, familial tremor, and idiopathic tremor, is a medical condition characterized by involuntary rhythmic contractions and relaxations ( oscillations or twitching movements) of certain muscle groups in ...

from Parkinson's syndrome, it is unable to show us if the problem is

Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease (PD), or simply Parkinson's, is a long-term degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that mainly affects the motor system. The symptoms usually emerge slowly, and as the disease worsens, non-motor symptoms becom ...

, multiple system atrophy or

progressive supranuclear palsy Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a late-onset degenerative disease involving the gradual deterioration and death of specific volumes of the brain. The condition leads to symptoms including loss of balance, slowing of movement, difficulty ...

. Its main advantage is that DaTSCAN is able to diagnose Parkinson´s disease much earlier – ''in stage of 30% loss of the dopamine brain cells instead of 80-90%'', when the symptoms are already so visible, that we can be sure about the diagnosis. Striatum small

Procedure

At the beginning a patient should take two iodine tablets and wait for one hour. These pills are highly important, because they prevent the accumulation of radioactive substances in thyroid gland. After one hour, the patient gets an injection to shoulder, which contain the radiopharmaceutical and then he has to wait for 4 hours. The concentration of the substance increases and then it is scanned by gamma-camera, which is located around his head. Whole examination lasts about 30–45 minutes and it is non-invasive. If a patient use some of the medication listed below, it is necessary to stop the using few days or weeks before the DaTSCAN, but just after a consultation with his doctor. The examination takes just a few hours, so patients needn´t to stay in a hospital overnight, but they have to drink much more than they are used to and go to the toilet more often. It is important for a fast elimination of the radioactive substances from the body.

Contraindications

* pregnancy * breast-feeding * severe renal or hepatic insuficience * allergy to iodine substances * some kind of medication – stimulants or noradrenalin and some antidepressants

Differential Diagnosis

, multiple system atrophy or

Essential tremor Essential tremor (ET), also called benign tremor, familial tremor, and idiopathic tremor, is a medical condition characterized by involuntary rhythmic contractions and relaxations ( oscillations or twitching movements) of certain muscle groups in ...

Lewy body disease Lewy body dementias are two similar and common subtypes of dementia—dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD). Both are characterized by changes in thinking, movement, behavior, and mood. The two conditions have sim ...

Procedure

Contraindications

Differential Diagnosis

See also

External links

References