Movement Disorders

Specialists at MUSC Health perform advanced diagnostic tests to make a precise diagnosis and develop an appropriate treatment plan for you. Advanced diagnostic services at MUSC Health include:

• Dopamine transporter imaging (DaTscan)
• Positron emission tomography (PET)
• Neuropsychological testing

Dopamine Transporter Imaging (DaTscan)

This scan helps your doctor rule out movement disorders similar to Parkinson’s disease, such as essential tremors. This imaging technology uses small amounts of a low-level radioactive drug, or tracer, to gauge dopamine levels in the brain. A single-photon emission computed tomography, or SPECT scanner, measures the amount and location of dopamine in your brain. Low dopamine levels may indicate Parkinson’s disease.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

PET scans aid the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and other movement disorders. This imaging test shows how your brain uses glucose, a sugar. A low-level radioactive drug, or tracer, given with the glucose reveals areas of the brain with high levels of chemical activity.

Neuropsychological Testing

Our clinical neuropsychologists perform tests to determine how different areas and systems of your brain are functioning. Their expert assessments aid diagnosis and treatment planning.

Our doctors diagnose and treat adults with a variety of movement disorders, including: 

• Parkinson’s disease 
• Atypical parkinsonism 
• Huntington’s disease 
• Essential tremor 
• Dystonia 
• Tourette syndrome 
• Ataxia 
• Restless leg syndrome 
• Tardive dyskinesia 

At MUSC Health, you have access to the latest medications and treatments designed to help control symptoms and improve daily living. Treatment options at MUSC Health include:

• Medication management, including Duopa™
• Deep brain stimulation (DBS)
• Gamma knife surgery
• Botulinum toxin injections

Medication Management

Low dopamine levels can lead to tremors, stiffness and loss of motor control in people with certain movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease. Medications can bolster dopamine supply and minimize symptoms. However, people in advanced stages of Parkinson’s disease often experience digestion problems, which interfere with medication absorption.

Duopa™: MUSC Health movement disorder specialists and gastroenterologists have extensive experience with Duopa™, a wearable pump system that delivers medicine directly to the small intestine. The continuous medication flow ensures you get the maximum benefit from the drug treatment.

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

Deep brain stimulation uses a neurostimulator device that is similar to a pacemaker to deliver electrical signals to targeted areas of the brain. The electrical pulses reduce symptoms by blocking abnormal nerve signals. Learn more about DBS.

Gamma Knife Surgery

If medications do not help and you are not a candidate for deep brain stimulation, our doctors may perform Gamma Knife™ radiosurgery. This procedure delivers precise beams of radiation (gamma rays) to lesions deep within the brain. The rays destroy cells that cause movement problems. MUSC Health is one of only 300 centers worldwide with an all-inclusive Gamma Knife Center. Learn more about our Gamma Knife Center.

Botulinum Toxin Injections & Electromyography (EMG)

Our doctors have specialized training in using electromyography, or EMG, while injecting small doses of highly purified botulinum toxin into targeted muscles. These toxins relax muscles, reducing tremors and spasms.

An EMG detects abnormal muscle response and helps guide your doctor to the muscle sites that will benefit the most from the injections. For you, this means better results with fewer side effects.