GE Healthcare has reported the results of a randomized study assessing the effect of DaTscan single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging in a group of adult patients with clinically uncertain parkinsonian syndromes (CUPS).
DaTscan is a radiopharmaceutical which is indicated for striatal dopamine transporter visualization using SPECT brain imaging to assist in the evaluation of adult patients with suspected PS.
The multi-center, open-label global, randomized trial compared the clinical management, diagnosis and confidence of diagnosis (CoD) of patients with CUPS who underwent DaTscan imaging with those in the control group who did not.
The study evaluated patients at four weeks, 12 weeks and 52 weeks from baseline; imaging in the DaTscan group was performed 1 to 4 weeks from baseline.
Results demonstrated that DaTscan imaging group patients had at least one change in their clinical management from their baseline after 12 weeks (p = 0.002) and after 1 year (p < 0.001) compared with patients in the control group.
DaTscan was safe and well-tolerated in the trial.
GE Healthcare medical diagnostics SPECT general manager Terri Moench said, "By providing patients with a timely, accurate diagnosis, physicians can work quickly and closely with them to develop an appropriate treatment plan."