Optimization of oncological ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT imaging based on a multiparameter analysis

Med Phys. 2016 Feb;43(2):930-8. doi: 10.1118/1.4940354.

Abstract

Purpose: This paper describes a method to achieve consistent clinical image quality in (18)F-FDG scans accounting for patient habitus, dose regimen, image acquisition, and processing techniques.

Methods: Oncological PET/CT scan data for 58 subjects were evaluated retrospectively to derive analytical curves that predict image quality. Patient noise equivalent count rate and coefficient of variation (CV) were used as metrics in their analysis. Optimized acquisition protocols were identified and prospectively applied to 179 subjects.

Results: The adoption of different schemes for three body mass ranges (<60 kg, 60-90 kg, >90 kg) allows improved image quality with both point spread function and ordered-subsets expectation maximization-3D reconstruction methods. The application of this methodology showed that CV improved significantly (p < 0.0001) in clinical practice.

Conclusions: Consistent oncological PET/CT image quality on a high-performance scanner was achieved from an analysis of the relations existing between dose regimen, patient habitus, acquisition, and processing techniques. The proposed methodology may be used by PET/CT centers to develop protocols to standardize PET/CT imaging procedures and achieve better patient management and cost-effective operations.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods*
  • Middle Aged
  • Multimodal Imaging*
  • Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography*
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Signal-To-Noise Ratio
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18