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FDOPA PET SCAN. I have read much on the subject, both pro and con, and my viewpoint is if it can even feasibly determine dopamine loss and thus diagnose your symptoms as being related to Parkinson's (dopamine deficiency) rather then a similiar disease exhibiting the same symptoms yet not dopamine deficiency related.---then I am 100% for it. Of the 6 people I have heard of getting the FDOPA PET SCAN since it became an issue thanks to Deborah Setzer, 4 of them came back negative for Parkinson's. One was chiara, another dopamine responsive dystonia, another was depression, and the fourth I have to look up. I am pushing on getting it done here but having a problem even just getting in to see a doctor! I still highly encourage everyone to pursue this test and also encourage our own docs to educate themselves on it, it concerns me to hear any doctor much less a neurologist say this test is not for Parkinson's & I would encourage everyone to print the following (one of many) sources and take it to their next appointment. If anyone has had, or is working on getting this done, please post the results. Here is some info on FDOPA PET courtesy of UCLA, again one of many examples: The above link willl take you to a brochure on PET, I ask you all to print it & take to your neuros. source: http://www.nuc.ucla.edu/html_docs/PET/petbrochure.pdf PET images of the brain will show if you have Parkinson’s disease. A labeled amino acid called F-DOPA is used with PET to see if your brain has a deficiency in dopamine synthesis. If it doesn’t, then you do not suffer from Parkinson’s, and your tremor will be treated differently. P ET is safe. P ET replaces multiple medical testing procedures with a single exam. PET shows all the organ systems of the body with one image. P ET diagnoses disease often before it shows up on other tests. PET shows the progress of disease and how the body responds to treatment. P ET reduces or eliminates ineffective or unnecessary surgical or medical treatments and hospitalization. PET significantly reduces multiple medical costs and avoids needless pain to the patient. People expect quality medical care at a reasonable cost and up-to-date diagnosis and treatment. Medical costs are most expensive when doctors are pursuing the origin of disease. As long as the disease is unknown, more tests will be done and more costs will result. PET can effectively pinpoint the source of many of the most common cancers, heart and neurological diseases, eliminating the need for redundant tests and diagnostic surgical procedures. PE T is a powerful, proven diagnostic imaging modality that displays the biological basis of function in the organ systems of the human body unobtainable through any other means. In a world of limited resources, PET saves time,saves money, and, most importantly, saves lives. Thomas Berdine Parkison's Advocate www.youngparkinsons.com --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.408 / Virus Database: 230 - Release Date: 10/24/2002 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn