Multi-atlas-based attenuation correction for brain 18F-FDG PET imaging using a time-of-flight PET/MR scanner: Comparison with clinical single-atlas- and CT-based attenuation correction

RIS ID

109104

Publication Details

Sekine, T., Burgos, N., Warnock, G., Huellner, M., Buck, A., ter Voert, E. E. G. W., Cardoso, M. J., Hutton, B. F., Ourselin, S., Veit-Haibach, P. & Delso, G. (2016). Multi-atlas-based attenuation correction for brain 18F-FDG PET imaging using a time-of-flight PET/MR scanner: Comparison with clinical single-atlas- and CT-based attenuation correction. Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 57 (8), 1258-1264.

Abstract

In this work, we assessed the feasibility of attenuation correction (AC) based on a multi-atlas-based method (m-Atlas) by comparing it with a clinical AC method (single-atlas-based method [s-Atlas]), on a timeof-flight (TOF) PET/MRI scanner. Methods: We enrolled 15 patients. The median patient age was 59 y (age range, 31-80). All patients underwent clinically indicated whole-body 18F-FDG PET/CT for staging, restaging, or follow-up of malignant disease. All patients volunteered for an additional PET/MRI scan of the head (no additional tracer being injected). For each patient, 3 AC maps were generated. Both s-Atlas and m-Atlas AC maps were generated from the same patient-specific LAVA-Flex T1-weighted images being acquired by default on the PET/MRI scanner during the first 18 s of the PET scan. An s-Atlas AC map was extracted by the PET/MRI scanner, and an m-Atlas AC map was created using a Web service tool that automatically generates m-Atlas pseudo-CT images. For comparison, the AC map generated by PET/CT was registered and used as a gold standard. PET images were reconstructed from raw data on the TOF PET/MRI scanner using each AC map. All PET images were normalized to the SPM5 PET template, and 18F-FDG accumulation was quantified in 67 volumes of interest (VOIs; automated anatomic labeling atlas). Relative (%diff) and absolute differences (j%diffj) between images based on each atlas AC and CT-AC were calculated. 18F-FDG uptake in all VOIs and generalized merged VOIs were compared using the paired t test and Bland-Altman test. Results: The range of error on m-Atlas in all 1,005 VOIs was-4.99% to 4.09%. The j%diffj on the m-Atlas was improved by about 20% compared with s-Atlas (s-Atlas vs. m-Atlas: 1.49% ± 1.06% vs. 1.21% ± 0.89%, P < 0.01). In generalized VOIs, %diff on m-Atlas in the temporal lobe and cerebellum was significantly smaller (s-Atlas vs. m-Atlas: temporal lobe, 1.49% ± 1.37% vs.-0.37%± 1.41%, P< 0.01; cerebellum, 1.55% ± 1.97%vs.-1.15%± 1.72%, P < 0.01). Conclusion: The errors introduced using either s-Atlas orm-Atlas did not exceed 5% in any brain region investigated. When compared with the clinical s-Atlas, m-Atlas is more accurate, especially in regions close to the skull base.

Please refer to publisher version or contact your library.

Share

COinS
 

Link to publisher version (DOI)

http://dx.doi.org/10.2967/jnumed.115.169045