Comparison of simplified parametric methods for visual interpretation of 11C-pittsburgh compound-B PET images

Abstract

This study compared several parametric imaging methods to determine the optimal approach for visual assessment of parametric Pittsburgh compound-B (11C-PIB) PET images to detect cortical amyloid deposition in different memory clinic patient groups. Methods: Dynamic 11C-PIB scanning of 120 memory clinic patients was performed. Parametric nondisplaceable binding potential (BPND) images were compared with standardized uptake value (SUV) and SUV ratio images. Images were visually assessed by 3 independent readers, and both interreader and intermethod agreement was determined. Results: Both 90-min (Fleiss k = 0.88) and 60-min (Fleiss k = 0.89) BPNDimages showed excellent interreader agreement, whereas agreement was good to moderate for SUV ratio images (Fleiss k= 0.68) and SUV images (Fleiss k = 0.59). Intermethod agreement varied substantially between readers, although BPNDimages consistently showed the best performance. Conclusion: The use of BPNDimages provided the highest interreader and inter-method agreement and is therefore the method of choice for optimal visual interpretation of 11C-PIB PET scans. COPYRIGHT © 2014 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Inc.