Summary of positron emission tomography (PET) findings in parkinsonian syndromes
| PET tracer | Parkinson’s disease | Progressive supranuclear palsy | Multiple system atrophy | Corticobasal degeneration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18F-Dopa | Asymmetric reduction (putamen > caudate) | Symmetrical reduction (caudate = putamen) | Symmetrical reduction (caudate = putamen) | Asymmetric reduction (caudate = putamen) |
| 18FDG | Normal/raised in striatum. Reduced in temporoparietal cortex | Reduced in bilateral striatum and frontal cortices | Reduced in striatum, brainstem, and cerebellum | Asymmetric reduction in striatum, thalamus, frontal and temporoparietal cortices |