PET/CT and Parkinson’s disease Diagnosis and treatment

The symptoms of Parkinson's disease result from a deterioration of the metabolic pathways in the area of the brain called the substantia nigra.

Cells in the substantia nigra are responsible for the production of dopamine, a chemical that transfers messages in the brain. A deficiency of dopamine disrupts the ability of the brain to direct or control movements normally.

PET/CT uses an imaging drug similar to dopamine called 18F-DOPA to show changes in dopaminergic systems inside the brain to diagnose Parkinson’s disease.