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Real members of MyParkinsonsTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.
A MyParkinsonsTeam Member asked a question 💭
Elkins, WV

A DaTscan is a nuclear medicine imaging procedure. An x-ray produces images using radiation outside your body to create images of dense interior structures. Nuclear medicine procedures capture images of radiation that comes from inside your body. This is to show how a body system is functioning. To do this, nuclear medicine uses substances with low levels of radioactivity—in this case Ioflupane I 123—to trace the activity of a functional element in the body—in this case, DAT.

November 10, 2025
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A MyParkinsonsTeam Member

My husband's symptoms were classic Parkinson's, so no need for the DaT scan. His response to carbidopa-levodopa confirmed it.

November 11, 2025
MyParkinsonsTeam

Has a DaTscan changed your diagnosis or treatment?

Many people with Parkinson's have had DaTscans done, and it can be helpful in supporting a diagnosis, though it's not definitive on its own. The scan visualizes dopamine-producing cells in your brain, which can help your neurologist differentiate Parkinson's from Show Full Answer

Has a DaTscan changed your diagnosis or treatment?

Many people with Parkinson's have had DaTscans done, and it can be helpful in supporting a diagnosis, though it's not definitive on its own. The scan visualizes dopamine-producing cells in your brain, which can help your neurologist differentiate Parkinson's from conditions like essential tremor.

How DaTscan helps:

- It can support a Parkinson's diagnosis when symptoms are unclear
- It helps rule out other movement disorders
- It shows abnormal dopamine function by using a radioactive tracer that binds to dopamine cells

What it might not change:

DaTscan doesn't definitively diagnose Parkinson's by itself. Your doctor likely used it alongside your medical history, neurological exam, and possibly your response to Parkinson's medications to reach a diagnosis.

Possible side effects you might experience:

- Headache
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Sensation of skin crawling

The scan is particularly useful when there's uncertainty about whether symptoms are due to Parkinson's or another condition. For some people, having this imaging done provided clearer answers and helped their doctor feel more confident about the diagnosis and treatment plan.

November 10, 2025
A MyParkinsonsTeam Member

My MDS says that while the DAT scan is pretty accurate, office evaluation is just as accurate....a lot of insurance companies will not approve DAT SCAN for that reason...
I was given a low dose of C/L and it confirmed his prognosis.

November 14, 2025
A MyParkinsonsTeam Member

@A MyParkinsonsTeam Member they gave me medicine at 8 then gave me the iv at 11am.
I had the scan at 2pm.
Long day.

November 10, 2025
A MyParkinsonsTeam Member

I haven't. I would have liked to.

November 10, 2025

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