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> Dr Leiberman, > Why is it that the medical community is so split on utilizing the > FDOPA PET SCAN to the current regime (observational/MRI) for aiding in > the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease? > It seems to many of us that if it this test can measure dopamine > deficiency then it would be extremely benefiical in differentiating > between Parkinson's disease and other forms (more treatable and > manageable) of Parkinsonism, no dopamine deficiency then no > Parkinson's "disease", is that correct? I would be happy if > neurologists told us, the patients, about this test and let us make up > our mind on wether or not "we" wish to have it done. The majority of > the neuro's I speak to state there is no test that can show > Parkinson's disease, does the f-dopa test not do this? > UCLA med center, among many other center, back this 100%. > Ref: HYPERLINK "HYPERLINK > "http://www.nuc.ucla.edu/html_docs/frame_pet.html"http://www.nuc.ucla. > edu/html_docs/frame_pet.html"http://www.nuc.ucla.edu/html_docs/frame_p > et.html"http://www.nuc.ucla.edu/html_docs/frame_pet.html > This test is available at the following locations: HYPERLINK > "HYPERLINK > "http://www.snidd.org/petsearchresults.cfm?radiotracerid=38"http://www > .snidd.org/petsearchresults.cfm?radiotracerid=38"http://www.snidd.org/ > petsearchresults.cfm?radiotracerid=38"http://www.snidd.org/petsearchre > sults.cfm?radiotracerid=38 > In the past 6 months we have pushed for our 600+ members at HYPERLINK > "HYPERLINK > "www.youngparkinsons.com"www.youngparkinsons.com"www.youngparkinsons.c > om"www.youngparkinsons.com to get this scan. Six of these have been > re-diagnosed from Parkinson's disease to other imitating diseases > (there are many). The majority of our members were DENIED the test by > their neuros stating that they never heard of the test or it is > "unreliable". > It is my understanding, I may be mistaken, that the European version > of this, the SPECT scan is used as a normal diagnostic tool overseas. > Just curious why US neurologists are so split, or uninformed / > misinformed of this tool. > I have finally convinced the Chief of Neurolgy here at the VA to aid > me in pursuing this test for me, I look forward to sharing my results > and that of the many others pursuing this FDOPA PET scan. > It is our hope that this scan will dramatically reduce the current 25% > misdiagnosis rate (at autopsy) of Parkinson's disease. > PS: Bless Deb Setzer for starting us all on t his FDOPA PET SCAN road. > I am happy to report that since her "un-diagnosis" of Parkinson's, and > removal from medication, she is reportedly doing much better and is > out of her wheel chair and plans to be dancing soon! She is even > talking of pursuing a medical degree in neurology! > INFORMATION > FDOPA PET Scan > Evaluating movement disorders > Ref: HYPERLINK "HYPERLINK > "http://www.nationalpetscan.com/petneur.htm"http://www.nationalpetscan > .com/petneur.htm"http://www.nationalpetscan.com/petneur.htm"http://www > .nationalpetscan.com/petneur.htm > Involuntary movement disorders such as Parkinson's Disease, > Huntington's Disease, and Tourette Syndrome can be difficult to > diagnose. PET can help a physician decide whether a patient's muscle > tremor is Parkinson's disease or another of the "Movement" disorders. > Using labeled amino acid, PET can determine if the patient's brain has > a deficiency in dopamine synthesis.As new treatments for epilepsy, > dementias, and movement disorders are developed, the need for early > diagnoses provided by PET exams should likewise grow. > > PET Centers that use [F-18]Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) > HYPERLINK "HYPERLINK > "http://www.snidd.org/petsearchresults.cfm?radiotracerid=38"http://www > .snidd.org/petsearchresults.cfm?radiotracerid=38"http://www.snidd.org/ > petsearchresults.cfm?radiotracerid=38"http://www.snidd.org/petsearchre > sults.cfm?radiotracerid=38 > > source: HYPERLINK "HYPERLINK > "http://www.nuc.ucla.edu/html_docs/PET/petbrochure.pdf"http://www.nuc. > ucla.edu/html_docs/PET/petbrochure.pdf"http://www.nuc.ucla.edu/html_do > cs/PET/petbrochure.pdf"http://www.nuc.ucla.edu/html_docs/PET/petbrochu > re.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 > President > Young Onset Parkinson's Association > HYPERLINK "HYPERLINK > "www.yopa.org"www.yopa.org"www.yopa.org"www.yopa.org > Founder > HYPERLINK "HYPERLINK > "www.youngparkinsons.com"www.youngparkinsons.com"www.youngparkinsons.c > om"www.youngparkinsons.com > > > The Young Onset Parkinson's Association is a legal corporation, > incorporated as a not-for-profit in New Mexico and headquartered in > Albuquerque. We are in the middle of applying for our 501C(3) federal > tax exemption status and expect to have it within 2 - 6 months. If > this exemption is not approved, at first, your donation may not be tax > exempt until the time that we are approved federally. > > > > --- > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (HYPERLINK > "http://www.grisoft.com"http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.427 / Virus Database: 240 - Release Date: 12/6/2002 > > --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.427 / Virus Database: 240 - Release Date: 12/6/2002 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn