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Neurodegenerative Disorders: Parkinson's Disease & Essential Tremor with DaTscan (TM)

Price: $8.00
Imaging CE: 1.00
This course is accessible until 1/1/2026

The ability to provide patients with an early, accurate diagnosis for neurodegenerative movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s Disease, has been an on-going challenge that can take up to six years because of the dependence on symptom presentation. Unfortunately symptom presentation varies with patients. Also, other movement disorders, such as essential tremor, have similar symptoms, but they occur in different areas of the brain and do not involve the dopamine system. Now, the FDA has approved DaTscan, an imaging agent developed that can detect the presence of dopamine transporters (DaT) in the brain which allows physicians to diagnose and begin the correct course much earlier in the disease process.

This course for Nuclear Medicine Technologists and other interested healthcare professionals briefly describes Parkinsonism and essential tremor and some of the key issues related to diagnosis and treatment for both. It then describes the value and use of DaTscan, describing patient preparation, imaging parameters, and guidelines for distinguishing between normal and abnormal scans.

NOTE for Imaging: This activity may be available in multiple formats or from different sponsors; individuals may not repeat and report a self-learning activity for credit twice in the same biennium. You must be licensed in the state of Florida to report an activity that is only approved by the state. If this activity is also approved by an organization that ARRT has approved to evaluate CE, select that organization’s name, as opposed to the state licensing agency name.

This course reports to CE Broker

Upon successful completion of this course, the participant will be able to:
  1. List the signs and symptoms of Parkinsonian Syndrome and Essential Tremor.
  2. Identify differences between PS and ET.
  3. Describe how PS and ET are diagnosed.
  4. Describe the physical characteristics of DaTscan (I-123 ioflupane).
  5. List the approved indications for DaTscan.
  6. Identify patients for which DaTscan is contraindicated.
  7. Determine the appropriate dosage for DaTscan.
  8. Describe the proper patient preparation required for DaTscan.
  9. Identify appropriate acquisition and processing parameters.
  10. Differentiate between normal and abnormal cases.

Qualified Planners/Faculty

Elizabeth Duncan, MSHS, CNMT, RT(CT)

Elizabeth is a certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist and is currently working as Program Director for the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program and Imaging Sciences Chair at AdventHealth University.  Her main responsibility is for all aspects of the nuclear medicine program including didactic and clinical instruction, course content, program curriculum, student evaluation and counseling.  At the University, she has also taught classes in Radiobiology and Radiation Protection, Advanced Imaging, Introduction to Clinicals, as well as many others.  Her past experience includes medical sales and supervision of a Nuclear Cardiology Department.  Liz is the 2011-2012 recipient of the Faculty Merit Award for Professional Service presented by AdventHealth University. 

Disclosures
This author has disclosed that there are neither conflicts of interest nor commercial affiliation with this activity.

Joseph R. Hawkins, M.S.Ed, CNMT

Mr. Hawkins graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Rochester Institute of Technology and a Master of Science in Education from St. Joseph’s College of Maine. He is the Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditation at AdventHealth University. Previously, he served as an Associate Professor and the Program Director for the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program from its inception in 2001 until 2019. Mr. Hawkins has over 30 years of experience in Nuclear Medicine as an educator, technologist, and industry representative. He is currently the Secretary/Treasurer of the board for the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT). He is active in the Technologist Section of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) having served as Chair of both the Entry Level Curriculum Committee and the Student Membership Task Force and as a member of the National Council of Representatives. He has presented at numerous national, regional, and state meetings, and was awarded the AHU Faculty Merit Award for Professional Service and the SNMMI Outstanding Educator Award.

Disclosures
This author has disclosed that there are neither conflicts of interest nor commercial affiliation with this activity.

- 12/31/2025
2001 K Street, NW
Suite 300 North
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 800-334-2472
https://www.ahra.com
CE Credits: 1.00, Category: END1379 = A ARRT, Expires: 12/31/2025
CE Credits: 1.00, Category: FLDOH-BRC 25000269 = 00 Technical Approved, Expires: 1/31/2025

Completion Requirements: To receive continuing education credit commensurate with the credit awarded for this on-line activity, the participant must:

  • View all modules and cases studies.
  • Participate and pass all Self-Checks and Post Test(s).
  • Complete and submit the on-line evaluation.

Certificates of Completion: will be available to print immediately upon finishing the completion requirements. You are encouraged to print and save your certificate for your portfolio as required by your licensing body. Interdisciplinary accredited activities, activities having multiple accreditors, will be listed individually on the Certificate of Completion.

Non-Endorsement of Products: echelon®, as an accredited provider, has demonstrated proficient experience and viable resources to provide for valid and reliable evaluation of CE activities. The accuracy of the facts and opinions contained in this activity are the responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of echelon® or its sponsors. Practitioners should consult primary resources, state regulations, and their healthcare facility policies and procedures for specific application of said content to their local situation. echelon® does not imply that there is real or implied endorsement of any product, service, or company neither referred to in this activity nor of any company subsidizing costs related to this activity. All information contained in this activity is for educational purposes only.

Electronic Record Retention: All activity records are kept on file for a minimum of six (6) years.

Relevant Financial Relationships: echelon® also chooses full disclosure with each activity to report any relevant financial relationship affiliation or support in conjunction with the planning or development of any activity.

*There are no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies for those involved with the ability to control the content of this activity.