SUMMARY - Scanning Technologies Available for diagnosing MSA

[Guest guest]

Note: Most of this is taken word for word or slightly paraphrased

from

http://www.emedicine.com/neuro/topic671.htm

See the section on " Workup " .

The rest I've gleaned from what I posted this morning.

If you agree or disagree with my interpretation, please let's discuss.

Regards,

Pam

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Scanning Technologies Available to aid in MSA Diagnosis

1. MRI scans of the brain

- MRI may be normal in MSA

- MRI can help to exclude other diseases

- OPCA, cerebellar atrophy, and the putaminal lesion of

striatonigral

degeneration often are detected by MRI

- In MSA involving the extrapyramidal system (of the brain) a

T2-weighted MRI shows a characteristic finding

2. PET scans of the brain

a. L-Dopa PET - determines the presense of a parkinson-like

disorder

b. FDG PET - For differentiation between MSA and PD, fluoride

F 18

fluordeoxyglucose dopa (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)

imaging can

be used.

The caudate-putamen index, which is calculated by a formula based on

the

difference in the uptakes in the caudate and putamen divided by the

caudate

uptake, is lower in patients with MSA than in patients with PD.

3. Scintigraphy of the heart

a. Scintigraphy with MIBG - Scintigraphy with I 123 MIBG

appears to be

a useful tool for differentiation between PD and MSA early after

onset of

autonomic dysfunction.

4. SPECT scans of the brain

- Can differentiate Parkinson-like disorders from other

disorders like

Essential Tremor

- Is unable to differentiate between Parkinson's Disease,

Multiple

System Atrophy

and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.