Multicenter evaluation of a standardized protocol for rest and acetazolamide cerebral blood flow assessment using a quantitative SPECT reconstruction program and split-dose 123I-iodoamphetamine

An evidence-based review of quantitative SPECT imaging and potential clinical applications

SPECT has traditionally been regarded as nonquantitative. Advances in multimodality γ-cameras (SPECT/CT), algorithms for image reconstruction, and sophisticated compensation techniques to correct for photon attenuation and scattering have, however, now made quantitative SPECT viable in a manner similar to quantitative PET (i.e., kBq cm(-3), standardized uptake value). This review examines the evidence for quantitative SPECT and demonstrates clinical studies in which the accuracy of the reconstructed SPECT data has been assessed in vivo. SPECT reconstructions using CT-based compensation corrections readily achieve accuracy for (99m)Tc to within ± 10% of the known concentration of the radiotracer in vivo. Quantification with other radionuclides is also being introduced. SPECT continues to suffer from poorer photon detection efficiency (sensitivity) and spatial resolution than PET; however, it has the benefit in some situations of longer radionuclide half-lives, which may better suit the biologic process under examination, as well as the ability to perform multitracer studies using pulse height spectroscopy to separate different radiolabels.

Single-scan rest∕stress imaging (18)F-labeled flow tracers

PURPOSE

The authors report a novel measurement strategy to obtain both rest and stress blood flow during a single, relatively short, scan session.

METHODS

Measurement of rest-stress myocardial blood flow with long-lived tracers usually requires separate scan sessions to remove the confounding effects of residual radioactivity concentration in the blood and tissue. The innovation of this method is to treat the rest-stress scan as a single entity in which the flow parameters change due to pharmacological challenge. With this approach the fate of a tracer molecule is naturally accounted for, no matter if it was introduced during the rest or stress phase of the study. Two new dual-injection kinetic models are considered that represent the response to pharmacological stress as a transitional or transient increase of myocardial blood flow. The authors present the theory of the method followed by the specific application of the theory to (18)F-Flurpiridaz, a new myocardial flow-imaging agent.

RESULTS

Myocardial blood flow was accurately and precisely estimated from a single-scan rest∕stress study for the long half-lived tracer (18)F-Flurpiridaz. By accounting for the time-dependence of the kinetic parameters, the proposed models achieved good accuracy and precision (5%) under different vasodilators and different ischemic states.

CONCLUSIONS

Detailed simulations predict that accurate and precise rest-stress blood flow measurements can be obtained in 20-30 min.

Cerebral blood flow and metabolism of hyperperfusion after cerebral revascularization in patients with moyamoya disease

In moyamoya disease (MMD), surgical revascularization may be complicated with postoperative hyperperfusion. We analyzed cerebral perfusion and metabolism using positron emission tomography (PET) or single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) before and after bypass surgery on 42 sides of 34 adult patients with MMD. In seven cases (16.7%) with symptomatic hyperperfusion, diagnosed by qualitative (123)I-iodoamphetamine (IMP) SPECT, a subsequent PET study during postoperative subacute stages revealed significantly increased cerebral blood flow (CBF) from 34.1 ± 8.2 to 74.3 ± 12.8 mL/100 g per minute (P<0.01), a persistent increase in cerebral blood volume (CBV) from 5.77 ± 1.67 to 7.01 ± 1.44 mL/100 g and a significant decrease in oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) from 0.61 ± 0.09 to 0.40 ± 0.08 (P<0.01). Mean absolute CBF values during symptomatic hyperperfusion were more than the normal control +2 standard deviations, the predefined criteria of PET. Interestingly, two patients with markedly increased cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO(2)) at hyperperfusion were complicated with postoperative seizure. Among preoperative PET parameters, increased OEF was the only significant risk factor for symptomatic hyperperfusion (P<0.05). This study revealed that symptomatic hyperperfusion in MMD is characterized by temporary increases in CBF >100% over preoperative values caused by prolonged recovery of increased CBV.

Three-dimensional brain phantom containing bone and grey matter structures with a realistic head contour

Introduction

A physical 3-dimensional phantom that simulates PET/SPECT images of static regional cerebral blood flow in grey matter with a realistic head contour has been developed. This study examined the feasibility of using this phantom for evaluating PET/SPECT images.

Methods

The phantom was constructed using a transparent, hydrophobic photo-curable polymer with a laser-modelling technique. The phantom was designed to contain the grey matter, the skull, and the trachea spaces filled with a radioactive solution, a bone-equivalent solution of K₂HPO₄, and air, respectively. The grey matter and bone compartments were designed to establish the connectivity. A series of experiments was performed to confirm the accuracy and reproducibility of the phantom using X-ray CT, SPECT, and PET.

Results

The total weight was 1997 ± 2 g excluding the inner liquid, and volumes were 563 ± 1 and 306 ± 2 mL, corresponding to the grey matter and bone compartments, respectively. The apparent attenuation coefficient averaged over the whole brain was 0.168 ± 0.006 cm⁻¹ for Tc-99 m, which was consistent with the previously reported value for humans (0.168 ± 0.010 cm⁻¹). Air bubbles were well removed from both grey-matter and bone compartments, as confirmed by X-ray CT. The phantom was well adapted to experiments using PET and SPECT devices.

Conclusion

The 3-dimensional brain phantom constructed in this study may be of use for evaluating the adequacy of SPECT/PET reconstruction software programs.

Reproducibility of cerebral blood flow assessment using a quantitative SPECT reconstruction program and split-dose 123I-iodoamphetamine in institutions with different γ-cameras and collimators

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is used widely in clinical studies. However, the technique requires image reconstruction and the methods for correcting scattered radiation and absorption are not standardized among SPECT procedures. Therefore, quantitation of cerebral blood flow (CBF) may not be constant across SPECT models. The quantitative SPECT (QSPECT) software package has been developed for standardization of CBF. Using the QSPECT/dual-table autoradiographic (DTARG) method, CBF and cerebral vascular reactivity (CVR) at rest and after acetazolamide challenge can be evaluated using (123)I-iodoamphetamine in a single SPECT session. In this study, we examined the reproducibility of quantitative regional CBF and CVR in QSPECT/DTARG using different SPECT models at two facilities. The subjects were nine patients with chronic cerebral ischemic disease who underwent QSPECT/DTARG at both facilities with use of different γ-cameras and collimators. There were significant correlations for CBF at rest and after acetazolamide challenge measured at the two facilities. The consistency of the CBFs of the patients measured at the two facilities were good in all cases. Our results show that CBF measured by QSPECT/DTARG in the same patients is reproducible in different SPECT models. This indicates that standardized evaluation of CBF can be performed in large multicenter studies.

Brain perfusion SPECT imaging and acetazolamide challenge in vascular cognitive impairment

Cerebrovascular disease is recognized as a common cause of cognitive impairment and dementia, alone or coexisting with other neurodegenerative diseases, mostly Alzheimer's disease. Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is a part of the heterogenous disorders group related to cerebral vessel disease. Although age is one of the most important risk factors for VCI, other common cardiovascular risk factors are also involved. By investigating these risk factors, a high proportion of these cognitive disorders can be prevented and/or delayed. Until now, only treatment of midlife arterial hypertension has been recognized as a preventing factor of vascular dementia. Brain MRI is becoming the method of choice to investigate cerebral vascular pathologies. However, this form of morphological imaging remains inadequate and does not provide useful functional information during VCI exploration, despite which functional imaging such as brain perfusion single-photon computed tomography, performed in baseline conditions and/or after an acetazolamide challenge, is underutilized in VCI exploration. The common strategies for VCI screening have not been standardized until now, and therefore further long-term imaging studies are needed to establish early diagnostic protocols. The present review summarizes the potential benefits of brain perfusion single-photon computed tomography imaging and possible scintigraphic quantification of cerebral hemodynamic reserves in investigation of VCI.

Clinical application of arterial spin-labeling MR imaging in patients with carotid stenosis: quantitative comparative study with single-photon emission CT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Arterial spin-labeling is an emerging technique for noninvasive measurement of cerebral perfusion, but concerns remain regarding the reliability of CBF quantification and clinical applications. Recently, an ASL implementation called QUASAR was proposed, and it was shown to have good reproducibility of CBF assessment in healthy volunteers. This study aimed to determine the utility of QUASAR for CBF assessment in patients with cerebrovascular diseases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty patients with carotid stenosis underwent CBF quantification by ASL (QUASAR) within 3 days of performance of (123)I-iodoamphetamine-SPECT. CVR to acetazolamide also was assessed by ASL and SPECT. In surgically treated patients, the respective scans before and after the procedures were compared.

RESULTS

Regional CBF and CVR values measured by ASL were significantly correlated and agreed with those measured by SPECT (r(s) = 0.92 and 0.88, respectively). A Bland-Altman plot demonstrated good agreement between 2 methods in terms of CBF quantification. Furthermore, ASL could detect pathologic states such as hypoperfusion, impaired vasoreactivity, and postoperative hyperperfusion, equivalent to SPECT. However, ASL tended to overestimate CBF values especially in high-perfusion regions.

CONCLUSIONS

ASL perfusion MR imaging is clinically applicable and can be an alternative method for CBF assessment in patients with cerebrovascular diseases.