Bruce,
PET scans merely trace some ligand[inserted / injected unstable atoms of
some element] and track them through the system. The PET scans can be
accurate, but they do not reveal anything but the positioning of the
inserted substance. We do not know enough about what goes on in the brain
to be sure what we are measuring as far as the parts of the brain are
concerned.
The only sure test you are not ready for. The neurologists know a lot but
do little; the neurosurgeons know very little but do a lot; the
neuropathologist knows it all but it's too late.
I've had two PET scans which revealed that I have less than normal activity
around the receptors which normally take up dopamine. That's not enough
information in and of itself to give a guaranteed diagnosis.
Will
Will Johnnston
A.P.D.A. DelMarVA Chapter Pres.
4049 Oakland School Road
Salisbury MD 21804 USA 410-543-0110
----------
From: B. BRUCE ANDERSON <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: PET Scans-advice requested
Date: Monday, June 14, 1999 8:07 PM
As a few of yu may know, i definitely do not have Michael J Fox's version
of pd. i had my 1st symptom in '94, was diagnosed in '95 and completely
lost the ability to walk in 3/99. i have no on's or off's, tremor, no
dyskenesia - just freezing of my legs which now feels more like paralysis.
A month ago i tried a different neuro. [my wife & sister went on the last
appt. with the previous one & didn'tcare for him + I can see him only for
20
min. 3 times a year + he won't respond to faxes & since my speech is mostly
unintelligible that's it!!]. I have tried all the drugs & only sinement
seems to do just a little bit of good.
This new neuro immediately suggested a PET scan, which he just called my
wife with the results. He said that he could see no sgns of MSA, SDS, SNP,
or any of the other PD+ diseases + he said he saw no sign of PD either so i
dont have PD! [he furthermore said i needed to see a movement disorders
specialist, {MDS} which i thought this guy was {Dr. Avery Katz in Clifton,
NJj} - i didn;t know that neuro's who billed themselves as pd specialists
did not consider themselves MDS's]
Does anyone out there know if this dr is correct- can a PET scan completely
rule OUT PD? I surely do have something & it does closely resemble PD in
many ways.
THANKS, right now i don't know what to do or where to go
Bruce Anderson [53, 5]
[log in to unmask]
Schooley's Mtn, NJ
Message -----
From: Marty Polonsky <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, June 14, 1999 5:39 PM
Subject: Re: PET Scans
> Joe,
> II knew about the high expense of PET scans but I did not know that they
were
> any more dangerous than, e.g., a CT scan. As you know, they present a
> potetially significant development in research and diagnosis in their
> capacity to visually portray the poverty of dopaminergic activity in the
> substantia nigra.
> Marty Polonsky
>
