When I asked my Neurologist about a Dat Scan he said I would have to find a trial that would do it.......Say What????? I was thinking it was a normal thing to get a Dat Scan for diagnosis. Is it just because I'm in a backward state rural state that it is not done routinely? I live in Arkansas.
So my question is did you get a Dat Scan?
M.R.I. but no DAT Scan.
MRI "now just lay in this tube for 45 min and don't move, " said the technician to the PARKINSON'S PATIENT.
I got an MRI,eventually, when my insurance would pay for it. Just checking to make sure it wasn't something else going on in my brain I guess.
My son has Kaiser insurance (HMO). The neurologist at Kaiser Permanente ordered it and Kaiser administered it. We live in Los Angeles, CAlif.
I don't believe it's a normal thing in the U.S. A lot of insurance companies won't pay for it & I heard it's very expensive.
OK I don't feel so bad now. I thought it was a routine thing.
I had it, I am in the UK, it didn't say one way or the other so it was really a waste of time and money. My Dr said not everyone is offered it here depends on your neurologist.
When I was being dx I was sent for a MRI and a DAT scan. I thought everyone had these! !
Where do you live twotutts42? I was sent for an MRI before I even got to see the neurologist, but no Dat Scan.
I live in the UK sounds like I been lucky to get these tests.
Yeah same, guess we should count our lucky stars for the NHS.
I think they take age into factor as well I'm 36 yo and as it's rarer in younger patients they tend to make sure.
My husband has Parkinson's and he had a dat scan to help confirm the diagnosis. We went to Dallas branch of University of Texas Southwestern Medical School Neurology and Movement Disorders dept.
We had no problem in getting the test.
Dallas is a very large city and the Medical School you went to obviously specializes in things like PD. Here in Arkansas we have no such school. Dallas isn't very far away from Arkansas though but at this point I don't want to travel and I'm not at all sure my insurance would pay. Did your insurance cover it?
DAT scan was not offered and I declined the MRI. I have classic Parkinson's symptoms which are relieved by levodopa. Neuro said chances of it being anything other than PD are extremely remote, and I agree. Saw no point in more diagnostic testing.
Yes I had a DatScan after another neurologist suggested I didn't have PD at all, and I paid privately to get a definitive answer and he also said I didn't have it - so my neurologist arranged a DatScan on the National Health service (NHS) . I live in the UK. The DatScan proved definitively that I do have PD. I had mixed feelings, as I was excited to think that I didn't have PD, but concerned that whatever it was that I did have may have been worse. He also arranged an MRI scan for me.
Sounds more and more like the UK has it's act together with medical care. Wish it were that way here in the USA.
My husband pd 33yrs I asked if he could have a dat scan a couple of years ago on nhs. Was told they cost £500 and she couldn't justify it because she was sure of dx. Always been a niggle of doubt in my mind.
Mri but no dat scan.
I looked up DAT scan and found this article: michaeljfox.org/files/Imagi...
I had an MRI before diax but no DAT. It does seem like a good test though.
Very informative article. Thank you.
If you have classic symptoms, the x-rays are not helpful. If there's a question about diagnosis, scans May be helpful. The earlier you are In the process, the more potential for help with scans. They are just scans. The results May be equivocal and promote anxiety rather than relieve it. Don't feel necessarily deprived if you did not get an x-ray
I had one (in NYC, via Mt. Sinai) and it was "inconclusive." Apparently insurance doesn't like them because unless there is significant change in the Nigra region it fails to register.
Good to know. I'm glad I asked.
The DatScan reveals how much dopamine is in your Basal Ganglia. If it is depleted/thin you have PD without doubt: if it is fat/thick (words used by the neurologist) you do not have PD. That's how they tell. And it's apparently the only way to tell categorically whether someone has PD: clinical assessment is open to doubt because it's done subjectively based on observation and asking the patient and noting symptoms. The scan is expensive but because more than one neurologist suggested I didn't have it, it was necessary in order for me and my neurologist to know whether I really did, and medicate accordingly. Hope this helps.
Yes our insurance paid for the scan. My husband is 72 and has medicare and private insurance. Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas is where we were referred to as they take medicare for DAT scan reimbursement. Our preferred doctor has recently moved to Detroit and we are contemplating making that trip 2x a year to use her if we don't like the partner we are seeing now.
With a disease like this having a doctor you have faith in and are happy with your treatment is worth making a trip a few times a year. The neuros don't seem to want to see you very often anyway.
I have been reading the comments, live in the UK also had dat scan and MRI, consultant told me after MRI I definitely had Parkinson's as it showed a much reduced dopamine levels.
I live in Uk .I had a Mri and Dat scan and was told by my consultant there are no tests that can diagnose PD for certain.Any one else told that.I am 58 and have had PD for 12 years.
Yes, my Nero and my GP said the same thing.
Yes, I did. It was the only thing that definitively provided a diagnosis. I don't think it is too uncommon however expensive. Here in Oklahoma there was only only one location (OU Medical Cntr) that does it. Maybe you need to take a road trip to OK?
I will if I have to I will get a DatScan but honestly I don't think I need to right now. If my Nuero starts saying I don't have PD -- which I know I do -- I will insist on getting it done. So far I'm good...his working diagnosis is PD.
What city in OK is this Medical Cntr. There is one in Dallas that one might be closer for me. Either one I would have to fly to. I could not handle a road trip.
OU Medical center is in Oklahoma City. It was a 3 hr process but the actual scan only took a few minutes and was not uncomfortable or loud like a MRI. The longest part was the 3 hr wait while the injection circulated.
I think that is closer than Dallas, but if I'm flying it really doesn't matter. I definitely will keep this in mind if I take that route.
I heard this test is very expensive. Did your insurance cover it?
Theresa, what about University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock? If your doctor requests or orders a datscan then it should be covered. But, of course, you would want to check with your insurance carrier and find out in advance.
Yes thankfully my insurance covered the test. I think between the CAT scan they did 1st thing when I got there and the Dat following, it was in the range of $8,000 but I only had a co-pay as I had already met my deductible. Best of luck to you neighbor!
DAT scan and Wellbutrin 
DAT scan next week; stop supplements? 
DAt Scan ?
Dat scans would it make sense?
