Normal DAT Scan and MSA Diagnosis

[Degsy60]

Hello

My wife received a MSA-P probable diagnosis a year ago which like all of us in this community took ages to get and as long to emotionally accept. We recently moved and have a new neurologist who is questioning the diagnosis because he saw a normal DAT scan and he believes that the drops in blood pressure are not as bad as previously recorded by the other medical team. He accepts all the other MSA symptoms exist and says it could still be MSA, so is this just his inexperience showing or competition between neurologists to be the expert.

Anyone out there who has MSA and a normal DAT scan or had problems with neurologists challenging previous diagnosis? Thanks in advance for any help as we feel destroyed today.

[SamanthaMSAT Moderator Staff]

Hi Degsy60,

I am sorry to hear your wife has a probable diagnosis of MSA.

It is very hard to make this diagnosis as we have no difinitive diagnostic tool. We do use scans to rule out other conditions and for some there is a marker on the MRI scan called a "hot cross bun " sign, but it isn't present in all cases of MSA, which is why it takes so long to reach a diagnosis. We do have new criteria guidleines, which all Neurologists will use, but most will want to see someone several times to be sure. It isn't a diagnosis anyone wants to make so they will often wait for other symptoms to show, which makes it tougher on the person and their family. We use a possible or a probable diagnosis depending on the criteria and that is as close as we can be at this time.

Do have a look at our website for further information, it is free to join and you can access the nurses and other professionals for advice: msatrust.org.uk

Kind regards,

Samantha MSAT nurse specialist

[Gardener10]

Hi Degsy60,

I had a normal DAT scan , no significant drop in BO to note, but a few other MSA symptoms. I did however have an abnormal AEMG carried out at The Neurology Hospital in London