Parkinson S Disease Diagnosis Test
Your doctor may suggest a specific single photon emission computerized tomography spect scan called a dopamine transporter scan datscan.
Parkinson s disease diagnosis test. Making an accurate diagnosis of parkinson s particularly in its early stages is difficult but a skilled practitioner can come to a reasoned conclusion that it is pd. This technique allows doctors to see detailed pictures of the brain s dopamine system. No specific test exists to diagnose parkinson s disease. However there are various symptoms and diagnostic tests used in combination.
There is no one way to diagnose parkinson s disease pd. Food and drug administration approved an imaging scan called the datscan. Your doctor trained in nervous system conditions neurologist will diagnose parkinson s disease based on your medical history a review of your signs and symptoms and a neurological and physical examination. Mri in parkinson s testing one of the more common tests done during a neurologic workup is an mri scan and one may think that in the investigation of a disease that affects the brain such as parkinson s this imaging test would be a necessity.
How mri exams are. In the context of parkinson s disease however an mri is not particularly helpful. Imaging studies to evaluate parkinson s disease and parkinsonian syndromes include magnetic resonance imaging mri which examines the structure of the brain and datscan an imaging test approved by the food and drug administration fda to detect the dopamine function in the brain. Ct or computed tomography uses x rays and computers to produce images of inside the body including the brain.