Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026

A Dual Tracer PET-MRI Protocol for the Quantitative Measure of Regional Brain Energy Substrates Uptake in the Rat
Published on: December 28, 2013
Dual-radionuclide brain SPECT for the differential diagnosis of parkinsonism
Georges El Fakhri1, Jinsong Ouyang
1Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. elfakhri@pet.mgh.harvard.edu
Abstract:
Parkinsonism is a neurological syndrome characterized by tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity, and postural instability. The underlying causes of parkinsonism are numerous. It is of paramount importance to make clean distinction among these diseases. However, the differential diagnosis of parkinsonism is challenging. Simultaneous dual-radionuclide brain SPECT allows us to assess both blood perfusion and dopamine transporter function under the identical physiological conditions. This approach has been proven to improve the differential diagnosis of parkinsonism. The simultaneous (99m)Tc-ECD/(123)I-FP-CIT brain SPECT protocols, which are used for the differential diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy as well as corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy, are presented.
Related Concept Videos
Imaging Studies II: Positron Emission Tomography and Scintigraphy
Fundamental Principles of PET
Parkinson's Disease: Treatment
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of its...
Positron Emission Tomography
One of the main requirements of a PET scan is a positron-emitting radioisotope, which is produced in a cyclotron and then attached to a substance used by the part of the body being...
Radiological Investigation III: Pulmonary Angiogram and PET Scan
Pulmonary Angiogram
A Pulmonary Angiogram is an invasive procedure involving injecting a contrast medium through a catheter threaded into the pulmonary artery or the right side of the heart to visualize the pulmonary vasculature. Computed Tomography (CT) scans have mainly replaced this...
