title: Use of fuzzy edge single-photon emission computed tomography analysis in definite Alzheimer's disease--a retrospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Definite Alzheimer's disease (AD) requires neuropathological confirmation. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) may enhance diagnostic accuracy, but due to restricted sensitivity and specificity, the role of SPECT is largely limited with regard to this purpose.
  
  
  METHODS
  We propose a new method of SPECT data analysis. The method is based on a combination of parietal lobe selection (as regions-of-interest (ROI)), 3D fuzzy edge detection, and 3D watershed transformation. We applied the algorithm to three-dimensional SPECT images of human brains and compared the number of watershed regions inside the ROI between AD patients and controls. The Student's two-sample t-test was used for testing domain number equity in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AD patients had a significantly reduced number of watershed regions compared to controls (p < 0.01). A sensitivity of 94.1% and specificity of 80% was obtained with a threshold value of 57.11 for the watershed domain number. The narrowing of the SPECT analysis to parietal regions leads to a substantial increase in both sensitivity and specificity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our non-invasive, relatively low-cost, and easy method can contribute to a more precise diagnosis of AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Thomayer Teaching Hospital and Institute for Postgraduate Education in Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic. robert.rusina@ftn.cz
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rusina
authors.forename: Jaromír
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kukal
authors.forename: Tomás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Belícek
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buncová
authors.forename: Radoslav
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matej
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D017143:Fuzzy Logic; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods*
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