title: Optimization of imaging parameters for SPECT scans of [99mTc]TRODAT-1 using Taguchi analysis.
abstract: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the basal ganglia. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans using [99mTc]TRODAT-1 can image dopamine transporters and provide valuable diagnostic information of PD. In this study, we optimized the scanning parameters for [99mTc]TRODAT-1/SPECT using the Taguchi analysis to improve image quality. SPECT scans were performed on forty-five healthy volunteers according to an L9 orthogonal array. Three parameters were considered, including the injection activity, uptake duration, and acquisition time per projection. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was calculated from the striatum/occipital activity ratio as an image quality index. Ten healthy subjects and fifteen PD patients were used to verify the optimal parameters. The estimated optimal parameters were 962 MBq for [99mTc]TRODAT-1 injection, 260 min for uptake duration, and 60 s/projection for data acquisition. The uptake duration and time per projection were the two dominant factors which had an F-value of 18.638 (38%) and 25.933 (53%), respectively. Strong cross interactions existed between the injection activity/uptake duration and injection activity/time per projection. Therefore, under the consideration of as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) for radiation protection, we can decrease the injection activity to 740 MBq. The image quality remains almost the same for clinical applications.
authors: Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Science, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung 406, Taiwan.
authors: Cheng-Kai
authors: CK
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 112, Taiwan.
authors: Jay
authors: J
authors: Wu
authors: Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Science, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung 406, Taiwan.
authors: Kai-Yuan
authors: KY
authors: Cheng
authors: Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Science, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung 406, Taiwan.
authors: Lung-Kwang
authors: LK
authors: Pan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011859:Radiography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio; D013997:Time Factors; D014326:Tropanes / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014326:Tropanes; C104196:technetium Tc 99m TRODAT-1