The diagnosis of movement disorders including Parkinsonian syndromes and essential tremor is mainly clinical. The most common diagnostic errors for Parkinson's disease include misdiagnoses such as Parkinson plus syndromes and cases of essential tremor. In this article, we discuss the clinical utility of DaTscan™ (123I-Ioflupane injection) and its diagnostic value in Parkinson's disease and the other Parkinsonian syndromes. Single photon emission computed tomography with 123I-Ioflupane can be useful to assist in the diagnosis of uncertain cases of Parkinsonism. An accurate diagnosis can aid clinicians in making correct decisions that are related to the overall management and treatment of Parkinson's disease, avoiding common therapeutic errors.
Keywords: 123I-Ioflupane; 123I-β-FP-CIT; DaTscan; Parkinsonism; SPECT.