Dopamine transporter imaging in psychogenic parkinsonism and neurodegenerative parkinsonism with psychogenic overlay: a report of three cases

Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov (N Y). 2013 Sep 10:3:tre-03-188-4324-2. doi: 10.7916/D8FB51PS. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Background: Differentiating psychogenic parkinsonism from neurodegenerative Parkinson's disease (PD) with psychogenic features is a diagnostic challenge.

Case report: We report a detailed longitudinal clinical description of three cases presenting with suspected psychogenic parkinsonism. Dopamine transporter single-photon emission computed tomography (DAT-SPECT) was used as a supplemental diagnostic study and influenced clinical management.

Discussion: DAT-SPECT quantified the integrity of the striatal dopaminergic system in these cases of clinically uncertain parkinsonism and supported clinical decision-making.

Keywords: Parkinson's disease; Psychogenic parkinsonism; dopamine transporter imaging; striatal dopaminergic deficit.