DaTscan (Ioflupane)

The ioflupane scan is a diagnostic study used to evaluate the function of dopamine cells in the brain. Reduced activity of dopamine cells may be caused by Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. For more information, please refer to: Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder - Conditions & Treatments  

Upon referral for the scan, an appointment at the Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging will be given. During the visit, please inform us if you have an allergy or sensitivity to iodine and alcohol.

Please also inform us if you have liver or renal disease.

Do let us know if you are taking drugs such as antipsychotics, antidepressants and cocaine.

You will be asked to take a medication called Lugol’s iodine on the day of the study and continued for 2 days later. Lugol’s iodine will reduce unwanted uptake of ioflupane in the thyroid. 

An injection of a small amount of radioactive substance called ioflupane will be given. You will be asked to wait for 3 hours before the scan is performed.

 

For the scan, you will be required to lie down on the examination table. An imaging technologist will position your head on a headrest. 

During the scan, the camera will be positioned close to and rotate around your head. There will be no direct contact between your head and the camera. You will be required to lie still for about 30 minutes.

Please drink plenty of fluids after the exam for two days.

The nuclear medicine specialist will review your scan and report the findings. Your physician will then review and discuss the results with you and explain what they mean in relation to your health.

The amount of radioactivity in the body from DaTSCAN is very small. It will be passed out of the body in a few days without need for you to take special precautions. The estimated radiation exposure from this scan is approximately equivalent to a CT study of the brain.