J Korean Geriatr Soc.  2010 Dec;14(4):253-257.

Cardiac 123I-Metaiodobenzylguanidine Scintigraphy in Patients with Parkinson's Disease and Parkinson's Disease with Dementia

• Kim YD
• Song IU
• Chung SW

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Because patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) may exhibit patterns of cognitive impairment, it is difficult to distinguish from patients with Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD). Recently, cardiac 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scinti-graphy has been used to help distinguish PD from atypical Parkinsonism. This study investigated the relations between cardiac 123I-MIBG scintigraphy and these diseases.
METHODS
Cardiac 123I-MIBG scintigraphy was conducted on 18 patients with PD, 18 patients with PDD and 13 normal controls matched for age, disease duration and severity of symptoms. The heart to mediastinum (H/M) ratio was calculated.
RESULTS
The mean values of H/M ratio were significantly lower for PDD and PD than for normal controls but there was no difference between the disease groups.
CONCLUSION
Unfortunately, cardiac 123I-MIBG scintigraphy did not distinguish PDD from PD in our study. We suggest further research with larger study populations be done to clarify the use of cardiac 123I-MIBG scintigraphy in differentiating other Lewy body diseases from dementia with PD features.

Keyword

Parkinson's disease; Dementia; 123I-MIBG scintigraphy; Heart to mediastinum ratio

MeSH Terms

Dementia
Heart
Humans
Lewy Bodies
Mediastinum
Parkinson Disease
Parkinsonian Disorders