title: UK audit and analysis of quantitative parameters obtained from gamma camera renography.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to perform an audit of quantitative values obtained from gamma camera renography in the UK. Ten patient image sequences representing normal and pathological renal function were obtained from archived studies and distributed to hospitals in the UK. Hospitals were asked to measure five parameters: relative function, renogram time-to-peak (left and right), and whole kidney mean transit time (left and right). Details of methodology, software used and operator experience were requested. This allowed the influence of operational factors on variations in reported values to be examined. A total of 180 responses from 81 hospitals were received. Values reported for the parameters, together with other details supplied, were entered into Excel and SPSS for statistical analysis. Histograms representing the distribution of values were produced for each parameter. The largest variations were found for mean transit time and occasionally for time-to-peak. The effect of factors was assessed using nonparametric statistical tests applied independently to each renogram. For all the parameters, the hospital, UK region, supplier, computer and software version influenced variations in the reported values. Algorithm and site of background region were influencing factors for relative function, the background subtraction method influenced time-to-peak, and curve smoothing influenced mean transit time.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) Nuclear Medicine Software Working Party, York. alex@haslar.demon.co.uk
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Houston
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Whalley
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Skrypniuk
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Jarritt
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Cosgriff
mesh_terms: D015902:Gamma Cameras / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D011866:Radioisotope Renography / Q000592:standards*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012016:Reference Values; D017263:Technetium Tc 99m Mertiatide; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D017263:Technetium Tc 99m Mertiatide; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate