title: Tracer Kinetic Modeling in PET.
abstract: Molecular imaging using PET provides a unique tool for noninvasively investigating the biochemistry of living organs. The wide range of radiolabeled molecules makes it possible to explore various biochemical, physiologic, and pharmacologic processes in vivo. Because each radiotracer is characterized by its particular kinetic behavior in the human body, the quantification of this behavior is a critical component for the improvement of imaging protocols and for rapid translation from research and development to the clinic. Suitable image reconstruction algorithms combined with tracer kinetic modeling techniques are needed to assess parametric or quantitative biologic images from the available fourdimensional images. An appropriate mathematical model is generally used to fit the time-activity curves of a region or volume of interest, thus allowing the assessment of biologic parameters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiobiology, University of Sherbrooke, 3001, 12th Avenue North, Sherbrooke (Qc) J1H 5N4, Canada. Electronic address: mhamed.bentourkia@usherbrooke.ca.
authors.forename: M'hamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bentourkia
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine, Geneva University Hospital, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Habib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zaidi