title: Quantitative amyloid imaging using image-derived arterial input function.
abstract: Amyloid PET imaging is an indispensable tool widely used in the investigation, diagnosis and monitoring of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Currently, a reference region based approach is used as the mainstream quantification technique for amyloid imaging. This approach assumes the reference region is amyloid free and has the same tracer influx and washout kinetics as the regions of interest. However, this assumption may not always be valid. The goal of this work is to evaluate an amyloid imaging quantification technique that uses arterial region of interest as the reference to avoid potential bias caused by specific binding in the reference region. 21 participants, age 58 and up, underwent Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) PET imaging and MR imaging including a time-of-flight (TOF) MR angiography (MRA) scan and a structural scan. FreeSurfer based regional analysis was performed to quantify PiB PET data. Arterial input function was estimated based on coregistered TOF MRA using a modeling based technique. Regional distribution volume (VT) was calculated using Logan graphical analysis with estimated arterial input function. Kinetic modeling was also performed using the estimated arterial input function as a way to evaluate PiB binding (DVRkinetic) without a reference region. As a comparison, Logan graphical analysis was also performed with cerebellar cortex as reference to obtain DVRREF. Excellent agreement was observed between the two distribution volume ratio measurements (r>0.89, ICC>0.80). The estimated cerebellum VT was in line with literature reported values and the variability of cerebellum VT in the control group was comparable to reported variability using arterial sampling data. This study suggests that image-based arterial input function is a viable approach to quantify amyloid imaging data, without the need of arterial sampling or a reference region. This technique can be a valuable tool for amyloid imaging, particularly in population where reference normalization may not be accurate.
authors: Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America; Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC), Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Su
authors: Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
authors: Tyler M
authors: TM
authors: Blazey
authors: Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
authors: Abraham Z
authors: AZ
authors: Snyder
authors: Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
authors: Marcus E
authors: ME
authors: Raichle
authors: Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America; Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC), Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
authors: Russ C
authors: RC
authors: Hornbeck
authors: Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC), Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Aldea
authors: Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America; Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC), Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
authors: John C
authors: JC
authors: Morris
authors: Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America; Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC), Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America; Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
authors: Tammie L S
authors: TL
authors: Benzinger
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D058225:Plaque, Amyloid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography