Dopamine Transporter Scintigraphy (DaTscan)

The DaTscan is a special kind of brain scintigraphy with which the functionality of certain parts of the nerve synapses, called dopamine transporters, can be examined.

This examination can identify Parkinson’s disease at a very early stage and can differentiate it from a harmless form of “tremors”.
The visual imaging of what are called the basal ganglia (nerve centres in the brain stem) allows your physician to make an exact diagnosis and to start targeted therapy based on the findings.

Examination procedure:

Before the actual date of the examination, you will be invited to an in-depth explanatory consultation in our practice to discuss the exact procedure and the preparation. You should bring all your medication to the consultation, as some medication must be stopped before the examination.

You can eat and drink normally before the examination itself. Your ability to drive will also not be affected following the procedure.

A DaTscan is a very time-critical examination, as the radioactive substance required (Iodine-123) is ordered and delivered just in time for your examination. We therefore request that you arrive at our practice punctually on the day of your scan.

On the day of the procedure, a small quantity of this radioactive labelled substance will be injected into a vein – this will build up in the central brain area over about 3 hours.

Following this concentration time, the gamma camera with SPECT technology will allow us to record images of these brain regions. You just lie on your back and relax during this. The examination itself lasts about 45 minutes.

The examination results will be available after a further 30 minutes and will be discussed with you following the procedure.

General information on nuclear medicine

Nuclear medicine

More information