Ioflupane I-123

Mastering Performance & Interpretation


Earn up to 2 CME

  • Registration: $40

This course addresses the following core competencies:

  • Appropriate clinical indications for evaluation by Ioflupane
  • Molecular mechanism of the radiopharmaceutical
  • Special considerations for ordering / receiving of a DEA regulated substance
  • Patient preparation
  • Technical requirements for optimal performance
  • Normal patterns of Ioflupane uptake
  • Abnormal patterns of Ioflupane uptake

Questions? Contact the Concierge


  • DaTscan Data Set

    Registration is temporarily closed for course revisions. Check back soon!

    This course is currently undergoing updates and registration is temporarily closed.

    Ioflupane I-123 is increasing in useage and notoriety for its assistance in the detection of Parkinson's Disease. This course is a comprehensive self-study review program designed for practicing Nuclear Medicine physicians and interested clinicians. If you would like to take the course for no charge, just contact the concierge to sign up and receive your secure link. If you would like to claim the 2 CME credits click on "Register" link above.

    The purpose of this activity is to update the interpretive and clinical skills necessary to manage and administer imaging studies utilizing I-123 Ioflupane. Each course participant will receive a secure link to the compendium of interactive training materials. These materials will be presented in an on-line format where the student will evaluate didactic material, clinical data and images. This course also includes 20 clinical cases with associated imaging data. Upon completion, the participant will take part in an online quiz to test their retention of the information presented.

    Disclosures: Faculty and Planning Committee member Dr. Philip Kuo has no relationships with commercial interests that would constitute a conflict of interest. Disclosures were also obtained from MD Training @home staff: Nothing to Disclose.

Additional Course Information


1) Appreciate the appropriate clinical indications for evaluation by Ioflupane.
2) Understand the molecular mechanism of the radiopharmaceutical.
3) Handle the special considerations for ordering and receiving of a DEA regulated substance.
4) Implement the special patient preparation required.
5) Put into practice the technical requirements for the optimal performance of the Ioflupane.
6) Recognize the normal pattern of Ioflupane uptake in the brain.
7) Recognize the abnormal patterns of Ioflupane uptake in the brain.

The course will begin with closing the gap in knowledge of the clinical context for nuclear imaging physicians. The epidemiology and differential diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease will be reviewed in order to learn proper indications for the exam. The importance of accurate and timely diagnosis will also be discussed. The specifics of both the radioisotope and pharmaceutical components of the radiopharmaceutical will be reviewed. Issues include radiation safety and registration as a controlled substance.

Patient preparation comprises of avoidance of interfering medications and pre-medication with iodine.

Technical requirements for acquisition, processing and presentation of the single photon emission tomography (SPECT) are reviewed.

A spectrum of cases selected to provide a “real world” experience are discussed. Important general reading algorithms as well as tips for specific situations are taught.
Making the clinical diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease can be very challenging especially early in the disease. Clinical diagnosis is also difficult in the setting of confounding conditions such as pre-existing essential tremor, stroke or polypharmacy. Accurate diagnosis is critical in order to institute proper medication and vice versa to avoid the side effects of medications in misdiagnosis. Patient quality of life is likely also improved with earlier and more confident diagnosis. In 2011, the FDA approved the radiopharmaceutical Ioflupane to assist in the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.

Aiding in the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is a new clinical field for nuclear physicians and thus the clinical context of this exam is novel. However, resources for physician training on this new brain imaging agent is limited. Failure of either performance or interpretation may result in misdiagnosis. Therefore, optimal physician training includes both the proper performance and interpretation of the study. The radiopharmaceutical has a unique combination of requirements including registration as a controlled substance, patient preparation, and rigorous scan requirements. In addition, a small percentage of imaging centers in the country have extensive experience with the agent. These conditions necessitate additional, focused training of physicians for this new study.
Phillip H. Kuo M.D., PhD.
University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson
Associate Professor for Departments of Radiology, Medicine, and Biomedical Engineering
Section Chief of Nuclear Medicine, Director of PET/CT
Laboratory Principal Investigator in the Arizona Cancer Center.
Co-sponsor's accreditation statement to be posted upon activity re-release
The course consists of three online components: Didactics, Case Review and Quizzing. These materials will be presented in an on-line format where the student will interact with the materials within MD Training @home's web based eLearning environment. The program requires no specialized connection or software and supports all major browsers on PC and Mac platforms.