Title :
Absolute in vivo quantitation of myocardial activity
Author :
Da Silva, Angela J. ; Tang, H. Roger ; Wong, Kenneth H. ; Wu, Max C. ; Dae, Michael W. ; Hasegawa, Bruce H.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Radiol., California Univ., San Francisco, CA, USA
Abstract :
Quantitation of myocardial SPECT images corrected for attenuation underestimates the true radionuclide content due to partial volume errors. To measure absolute radionuclide uptake, the authors have developed a technique to compensate these images for partial volume errors using coregistered X-ray CT images. The CT image is used to define a template that approximates the geometrical extent of the myocardium. Once defined, the template is assigned unit activity and is mathematically projected using a realistic physical model of the radionuclide imaging process. These projections are then reconstructed and used to compensate the SPECT image for partial volume errors. The method was tested in a porcine model of myocardial perfusion using Tc-99m sestamibi. The in vivo activity concentration in the porcine myocardium had an error in the range -40% to -60% with attenuation correction alone. By also correcting for partial volume errors, absolute quantitation with an accuracy error of 20% or better was achieved
Keywords :
cardiology; computerised tomography; image reconstruction; image registration; medical image processing; muscle; single photon emission computed tomography; SPECT image compensation; Tc; Tc-99m sestamibi; absolute in vivo quantitation; absolute radionuclide uptake; accuracy error; attenuation correction; coregistered X-ray CT images; image compensation; in vivo activity concentration; mathematically projected template; medical diagnostic imaging; myocardial activity; myocardial perfusion; nuclear medicine; partial volume errors; porcine model; radionuclide imaging process; Attenuation; Computed tomography; Error correction; Image reconstruction; In vivo; Mathematical model; Myocardium; Optical imaging; Volume measurement; X-ray imaging;
Conference_Titel :
Nuclear Science Symposium, 1999. Conference Record. 1999 IEEE
Conference_Location :
Seattle, WA
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-5696-9
DOI :
10.1109/NSSMIC.1999.842791