The contemporary diagnostic process in Parkinson's disease is based on the well-known clinical criteria and on some neuroimaging methods. Brain FP-CIT SPECT was introduced in Europe in 2003. In Bulgaria this method is available only in the university hospitals in Varna and Sofia. The present study aimed at assessing the diagnostic value of FP-CIT SPECT in the diagnostics of Parkinson's disease in 35 patients, in a local clinical setting. Twenty-six of the patients had been previously diagnosed as clinically possible or definite Parkinson's disease, while the remaining 9, as essential tremor. Brain FP-CIT SPECT scanning was performed in all subjects. The results were assessed visually for normal or abnormal ligand striatal uptake. Abnormal results were found in 25 of 26 patients diagnosed clinically as having Parkinson's disease. The remaining 9 patients with clinical diagnosis of essential tremor showed normal scan results. Sensitivity of the method for the clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease was 96% and the specificity for essential tremor was 100%. Our results for specificity and sensitivity of the method are similar to those previously published in the literature and would thus allow us to emphasize on the high informative value of the method in our clinical setting.
Scripta Scientifica Medica 2010; 42(1):55-57
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