Diagnostic accuracy of cerebral [F]FDG PET in atypical parkinsonism.

Background: Atypical parkinsonism (AP) often presents with Parkinson's symptoms but has a much worse long-term prognosis. The diagnosis is presently based on clinical criteria, but a cerebral positron emission tomography (PET) scan with [F]fluoro-2-deoxy-2-D-glucose ([F]FDG) may assist in the diagnosis of AP such as multiple system atrophy (MSA), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and Lewy body dementia (DLB). Only few studies have evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of [F]FDG PET for separating the diseases in a mixed patient population, which we aim to assess in a retrospective material.