Purpose: A technique is described for accurate quantification of the specific binding ratio (SBR) in [123I]FP-CIT SPECT brain images. Methods: Using a region of interest (ROI) approach, the SBR is derived from a measure of total striatal counts that takes into account the partial volume effect. Operator intervention is limited to the placement of the striatal ROIs, a task facilitated by the use of geometrical template regions. The definition of the image for the analysis is automated and includes transaxial slices within a "slab" approximately 44 mm thick centred on the highest striatal signal. The reference region is automatically defined from the non-specific uptake in the whole brain enclosed in the slab, with exclusion of the striatal region. A retrospective study consisting of 25 normal and 30 abnormal scans-classified by the clinical diagnosis reached with the scan support-was carried out to assess intra- and inter-operator variability of the technique and its clinical usefulness. Three operators repeated the quantification twice and the variability was measured by the coefficient of variation (COV). Results: The COVs for intra- and inter-operator variability were 3% and 4% respectively. A cutoff ∼4.5 was identified that separated normal and abnormal groups with a sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic concordance of 97%, 92% and 95% respectively. Conclusion: The proposed technique provides a reproducible and sensitive index. It is hoped that its independence from the partial volume effect will improve consistency in quantitative measurements between centres with different imaging devices and analysis software. © 2006 Springer-Verlag.
CITATION STYLE
Tossici-Bolt, L., Hoffmann, S. M. A., Kemp, P. M., Mehta, R. L., & Fleming, J. S. (2006). Quantification of [123I]FP-CIT SPECT brain images: An accurate technique for measurement of the specific binding ratio. European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, 33(12), 1491–1499. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-006-0155-x
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