Summary

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• Datscan (ioflupane I-123) is indicated as an adjunct to other diagnostic evaluations for striatal dopamine transporter visualization using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) brain imaging in adult patients with suspected Parkinsonian syndromes (PS) and as an adjunct to other diagnostic evaluations for striatal dopamine transporter visualization using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) brain imaging in adult patients with suspected dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).
• This summary is based on the review of three systematic review(s)/meta-analysis(es). ^[1-3]
• Dopamine transporter SPECT using iodine-123 (I-123) ioflupane (DaTscan) was effective in differentiating parkinsonian syndromes due to nigrostriatal degeneration from other clinical mimics, particularly in cases where clinical criteria were unclear.
• DaTscan imaging resulted in changes in clinical management in 54% (95% CI: 47-61%) of patients and altered diagnosis in 31% (95% CI: 22-42%) of cases, demonstrating its significant role in clinical decision-making across varied timeframes from symptom onset.
• Transcranial Sonography (TCS) and DaTscan had nearly similar sensitivity and specificity in differentiating Parkinson’s disease (PD) from essential tremor (ET), with TCS showing a pooled sensitivity of 84.6% (95% CI: 79.4-88.6%) and specificity of 83.9% (95% CI: 78.4-88.2%).
• There is no safety information available in the reviewed studies.
• The reviewed studies involved a general patient population suspected of parkinsonian syndromes and essential tremor, with specific subgroup analyses comparing the diagnostic effectiveness of DaTscan and TCS in distinguishing Parkinson’s disease from essential tremor, demonstrating high diagnostic accuracy for both tools across these groups. Additionally, DaTscan significantly influenced clinical management and diagnosis, particularly in patients with suspected parkinsonian syndromes, with changes in management observed in 54% (95% CI: 47-61%) of patients and changes in diagnosis in 31% (95% CI: 22-42%) of patients.