title: FDG PET/CT in cancer therapy monitoring: computer-assisted analysis of baseline together with up to two follow-ups.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We developed and tested a software tool for computer-assisted analysis of FDG-PET/CT in cancer therapy monitoring. The tool provides automatic semi-quantitative analysis of a baseline scan together with up to two follow-up scans (standardized uptake values, glycolytic volume). The tool also supports visual analysis by local spatial registration which allows display of tumor lesions with the same orientation in all scans. The tool's stability and accuracy was tested at typical everyday image quality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten unselected cancer patients in whom three FDG PET/CT scans had been performed were included. A total of 18 lesions were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Automatic lesion tracking worked properly in all lesions but one. In this lesion local coregistration had to be adjusted manually which, however, is easily performed with the tool. Semi-automatic lesion segmentation and fully automatic semi-quantitative analysis worked properly in all cases. Computer-assisted analysis was significantly less time consuming than manual analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The novel software tool appears useful for analysis of FDG-PET/CT in cancer therapy monitoring in clinical routine patient care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Charite Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany. ivayla.apostolova@charite.de
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Apostolova
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Renisch
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Opfer
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Derlin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buchert
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Carlsen
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Brenner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18