The influence of time sampling on parameters in the Logan plot

The Logan plot is a graphical method for reversible tracer bindings. The bias and uncertainties of this method have previously been analyzed with respect to noise, but little is known about the direct effects from varying the time sampling scheme. This study aims to investigate the effect of time sampling on the binding potential from the reference Logan plot. Image data from seven healthy subjects imaged with [11C]raclopride was reconstructed into six dynamic series of equal length time frames with frame times between 15 s and 480 s. Images were reconstructed using both filtered back projection (FBP) and a resolution enhanced ordered subset expectation maximization (OSEM) algorithm, SharpIR. For each sampling scheme, the nondisplaceable binding potential (BP_ND) parameter was calculated from the reference Logan plot with cerebellum as a reference region. The variation in BPND was analyzed as percentage deviations from the BPND for the 480 s scheme. R² of the linear fit was also analyzed. Comparison between all sampling schemes showed that the largest deviation in BPND was 7.4% between the 15 s sampling scheme and the 480 s sampling scheme reconstructed with SharpIR. The corresponding deviation for FBP images was 1.6%. R² was highest for long time frames, but all R² values were above 0.997 in this study.