Fw: Questions about FDG PET Scans

September 10, 2002

Sent to:

Vijay Dhawan, Ph.D.

Department of Neurology

North Shore University Hospital

350 Community Drive

Manhasset, NY 11030 USA

dhawan@...

Questions about FDG PET Scans

> Hello Dr. Dhawan,

>

> I'm the moderator of the online support group from Multiple System

> Atrophy(Shy-Drager Syndrome). I'm not a medical professional but I try

my

> best to provide factual information to our group which is why I need your

> help.

>

> It's come to my attention that a member of our group, Deborah Setzer, was

> seen at your center for an FDG PET scan. She tells us that this scan has

> shown

> conclusively that she does not have Parkinson's or any of the Parkinson

Plus

> disorders including MSA. This is the first time we've heard that such a

> definitive scan exists to rule out MSA so naturally we want to know more

> details.

>

> I know you can't comment on her case in particular but I'd like to know if

> you can explain for our group members exactly what an FDG PET (and other

> types of PET) can and cannot show? Is it correct that this scan can

> conclusively rule out MSA? Do you have data on this that you can share

with

> us? Many of our members are now questioning their MSA diagnosis and are

> wondering should they now go back to their doctors and insist on an FDG

PET

> scan as well.

>

> Any guidance you can give us would be appreciated.

> Thanks,

> Pam

> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/shydrager

>

September 12, 2002