Evaluation of basis function and linear least squares methods for generating parametric blood flow images using 15O-water and Positron Emission Tomography.
OBJECTIVE
Parametric analysis of (15)O-water positron emission tomography (PET) studies allows determination of blood flow (BF), perfusable tissue fraction (PTF), and volume of distribution (V (d)) with high spatial resolution. In this paper the performance of basis function and linear least squares methods for generating parametric flow data were evaluated.


METHODS
Monte Carlo simulations were performed using typical perfusion values for brain, tumor, and heart. Clinical evaluation was performed using seven cerebral and 10 myocardial (15)O-water PET studies. Basis function (BFM), linear least squares (LLS), and generalized linear least squares (GLLS) methods were used to calculate BF, PTF, or V(d).


RESULTS
Monte Carlo simulations and human studies showed that, for low BF values (<1 ml/min(-1)ml(-1), BF, PTF, and V(d) were calculated with accuracies better than 5% for all methods tested. For high BF (>2 ml/min(-1)ml(-1)), use of BFM provided more accurate V(d) compared with (G)LLS.


CONCLUSIONS
In general, BFM provided the most accurate estimates of BF, PTF, and V(d).
Boellaard
Ronald
R
Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. r.boellaard@vumc.nl
Knaapen
Paul
P
Rijbroek
Abraham
A
Luurtsema
Gert J J
GJ
Lammertsma
Adriaan A
AA
D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D016014:Linear Models; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply*; D010104:Oxygen Radioisotopes; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism*
D010104:Oxygen Radioisotopes; D014867:Water