Time-frame sampling for 82Rb PET flow quantification: Towards standardization of clinical protocols

Effect of temporal sampling protocols on myocardial blood flow measurements using Rubidium-82 PET

BACKGROUND

A variety of temporal sampling protocols is used worldwide to measure myocardial blood flow (MBF). Both the length and number of time frames in these protocols may alter MBF and myocardial flow reserve (MFR) measurements. We aimed to assess the effect of different clinically used temporal sampling protocols on MBF and MFR quantification in Rubidium-82 (Rb-82) PET imaging.

METHODS

We retrospectively included 20 patients referred for myocardial perfusion imaging using Rb-82 PET. A literature search was performed to identify appropriate sampling protocols. PET data were reconstructed using 14 selected temporal sampling protocols with time frames of 5-10 seconds in the first-pass phase and 30-120 seconds in the tissue phase. Rest and stress MBF and MFR were calculated for all protocols and compared to the reference protocol with 26 time frames.

RESULTS

MBF measurements differed (P ≤ 0.003) in six (43%) protocols in comparison to the reference protocol, with mean absolute relative differences up to 16% (range 5%-31%). Statistically significant differences were most frequently found for protocols with tissue phase time frames < 90 seconds. MFR did not differ (P ≥ 0.11) for any of the protocols.

CONCLUSIONS

Various temporal sampling protocols result in different MBF values using Rb-82 PET. MFR measurements were more robust to different temporal sampling protocols.

Simulation of Low-Dose Protocols for Myocardial Perfusion 82Rb Imaging

Quantification of myocardial perfusion and myocardial blood flow using 82Rb PET is increasingly used for assessment of coronary artery disease. Current guidelines suggest injections of 1,100-1,500 MBq for both stress and rest. Reducing the injected dose avoids PET system saturation in first-pass flow images and reduces radiation exposure, but the impact on myocardial perfusion quantification of static perfusion images is not fully understood. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the feasibility of performing myocardial perfusion scans using either a half-dose (HfD) or quarter-dose (QD) protocol using reconstructions from acquired full-dose (FD) scans. Methods: This study comprised 171 patients who underwent rest/stress 82Rb PET with a 3-dimensional 4-ring PET/CT scanner using a FD protocol and invasive coronary angiography within 6 mo of the PET emission scan. HfD and QD reconstructions were obtained using the prescribed percentage of events from the FD list-mode files. The total perfusion deficit was quantified for rest (rTPD), stress (sTPD), and ischemia (ITPD = sTPD - rTPD). Diagnostic accuracy for obstructive coronary artery disease, defined as at least 70% stenosis in any of the 3 major coronary arteries, was compared with area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve (AUC). Results: Patients with a median body mass index of 28.0 (interquartile range, 23.9-31.7) were injected with doses of 1,165 ± 189 MBq of 82Rb. For sTPD, FD and HfD protocols had similar AUCs (FD, 0.807; HfD, 0.802; P = 0.108), whereas QD had a reduced AUC (0.786, P = 0.037). There was no difference in the AUC obtained for ITPD among the 3 protocols (FD, 0.831; HfD, 0.835; QD, 0.831; all P ≥ 0.805). Conclusion: HfD imaging does not affect the quantitative diagnostic accuracy of 82Rb PET on 3-dimensional PET/CT systems and could be used clinically.

Automated dynamic motion correction using normalized gradient fields for 82rubidium PET myocardial blood flow quantification

BACKGROUND

Patient motion can lead to misalignment of left ventricular (LV) volumes-of-interest (VOIs) and subsequently inaccurate quantification of myocardial blood flow (MBF) and flow reserve (MFR) from dynamic PET myocardial perfusion images. We aimed to develop an image-based 3D-automated motion-correction algorithm that corrects the full dynamic sequence for translational motion, especially in the early blood phase frames (~ first minute) where the injected tracer activity is transitioning from the blood pool to the myocardium and where conventional image registration algorithms have had limited success.

METHODS

We studied 225 consecutive patients who underwent dynamic rest/stress rubidium-82 chloride (82Rb) PET imaging. Dynamic image series consisting of 30 frames were reconstructed with frame durations ranging from 5 to 80 seconds. An automated algorithm localized the RV and LV blood pools in space and time and then registered each frame to a tissue reference image volume using normalized gradient fields with a modification of a signed distance function. The computed shifts and their global and regional flow estimates were compared to those of reference shifts that were assessed by three physician readers.

RESULTS

The automated motion-correction shifts were within 5 mm of the manual motion-correction shifts across the entire sequence. The automated and manual motion-correction global MBF values had excellent linear agreement (R = 0.99, y = 0.97x + 0.06). Uncorrected flows outside of the limits of agreement with the manual motion-corrected flows were brought into agreement in 90% of the cases for global MBF and in 87% of the cases for global MFR. The limits of agreement for stress MBF were also reduced twofold globally and by fourfold in the RCA territory.

CONCLUSIONS

An image-based, automated motion-correction algorithm for dynamic PET across the entire dynamic sequence using normalized gradient fields matched the results of manual motion correction in reducing bias and variance in MBF and MFR, particularly in the RCA territory.

3D PET/CT 82Rb PET myocardial blood flow quantification: comparison of half-dose and full-dose protocols

PURPOSE

Quantification of myocardial blood flow (MBF) has become central in the clinical application of Rubidium-82 (⁸²Rb) PET myocardial perfusion scans. Current recommendations suggest injections of 1100-1500 MBq of ⁸²Rb in bolus form, which poses a potential risk of PET system saturation on most 3D PET/CT systems currently being used. We aimed to evaluate the frequency and impact of PET system saturation and to test the potential use of a half-dose acquisition protocol.

METHODS

This study comprised 20 patients who underwent repeated rest scans in a single imaging session, one employing a full-dose (FD), and the other scan a half-dose (HfD) protocol. Datasets were evaluated for saturation based on visual assessments of input functions and sinograms. We compared FD and HfD MBF measurements using Bland-Altman plots, coefficients of variation (CV), and paired t tests. A correction factor permitting serial analyses using FD/HfD imaging protocols was obtained using only the datasets without saturation.

RESULTS

A dose reduction of 47% was reported for the HfD protocol (FD, 1247 ± 196 MBq; HfD, 662 ± 115 MBq). Saturation effects were observed in 4/20 (20%) FD scans, with none observed in the 20 HfD scans. Assessment of MBFs for FD and HfD protocols revealed bias in the MBF assessments of 0.09 ml/g/min (global MBF, FD = 1.03 ± 0.29 vs HfD = 0.94 ± 0.22 ml/g/min (p = 0.001)). Exclusion of patients with visually identified saturation effects (N = 4) reduced the bias to 0.05 ml/g/min (global MBF, FD = 0.97 ± 0.28 vs HfD = 0.92 ± 0.23 ml/g/min (p = 0.02)). From the datasets without saturation effect, it was possible to generate a bias-correction: Corrected MBF_HfD = 1.09*MBF_HfD-0.03 ml/g/min. MBF_FD and MBF_HfD did not differ following the bias correction (MBF_FD = 0.97 ± 0.28, MBF_{HfD,corrected} = 0.98 ± 0.25 ml/g/min, p = 0.77).

CONCLUSION

Saturation effects can be problematic in ⁸²Rb MBF studies using the recommended FD protocols for 3D PET/CT scanners. The use of HfD protocol eliminates the risks of saturation and should be used instead of clinical protocols to avoid erroneous results.

How to detect and correct myocardial creep in myocardial perfusion imaging using Rubidium-82 PET?

Reliability of myocardial blood flow (MBF) quantification in myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) using PET can majorly be affected by the occurrence of myocardial creep when using pharmacologically induced stress. In this paper, we provide instructions on how to detect and correct for myocardial creep. For example, in each time frame of the PET images the myocardium contour and the observed activity have to be compared to check for misalignments. In addition, we provide an overview of the functionality of commonly used software packages to perform this quality control step as not all software packages currently provide this functionality. Furthermore, important clinical considerations to obtain accurate MBF measurements are given.