Feasibility of deep-inspiration breath-hold PET/CT with short-time acquisition: detectability for pulmonary lesions compared with respiratory-gated PET/CT

[Examination of Optimal Window Size and Acquisition Time of Respiratory-gated PET Image: Phantom Study with a SiPM-based PET/CT Scanner]

PURPOSE

This phantom study aimed to determine the optimal acquisition window size for phase-based respiratory gating in silicon photomultiplier (SiPM)-based fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) and its acquisition time in respiratory-gated imaging with the optimal window size.

METHODS

Images of a moving NEMA IEC Body Phantom Set^TM with hot spheres were acquired. First, the tumor volume and the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV_max) of images reconstructed using a different window size were evaluated to define the optimal window size. Second, the quality of the images reconstructed using the optimal window size and different acquisition times was evaluated using the detectability score of the 10-mm hot sphere and physical indices.

RESULTS

The volume and the SUV_max of the 10-mm hot sphere were improved when the window size was narrow, and there were no significant differences among images reconstructed using a window size narrower than 20%. To reconstruct an image using the 20% window size, an acquisition time of 5 min was required to visualize the 10-mm hot sphere.

CONCLUSIONS

The optimal window size for phase-based respiratory gating is 20%. Further, an acquisition time of 5 min should be taken for respiratory-gated imaging with the 20% window size on SiPM-based FDG-PET/CT.

Diagnostic Capabilities of MRI Versus 18F FDG PET-CT in Postoperative Patients with Thyroglobulin Positive, 131I-negative Local Recurrent or Metastatic Thyroid Cancer

BACKGROUND

The detection of recurrence or metastasis might be challenging in patients, who underwent total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine therapy for Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma (DTC), with increased serum Thyroglobulin (Tg) levels and negative 131I whole body scan (131I-WBS) results.

AIMS

The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (18F FDG PET-CT) to detect recurrence or cervical and upper mediastinal metastases in postoperative DTC patients who had negative 131I-WBS despite elevated serum Tg levels.

STUDY DESIGN

This study has a retrospective study design.

METHODS

We evaluated cervical and upper mediastinal MRI and 18F FDG PET-CT of 32 postoperative patients with DTC (26 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma and 6 patients with follicular thyroid carcinoma).

RESULTS

We evaluated 44 lesions in 32 patients. For all lesions, the Positive Predictive Value, (PPV) Negative Predictive Value (NPV), sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MRI were 81.4%, 76.4%, 84.6%, 72.2%, and 79.5% respectively. The PPV, NPV, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 18F FDG PET-CT were 100.0%, 85.7%, 88.4%, 100.0%, and 93.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Although we could not replace 18F FDG PET-CT, MRI might be used as an adjunct to 18F FDG PET-CT for the evaluation of recurrent or cervical and upper mediastinal metastatic thyroid cancers; however, MRI is inadequate for the detection of metastases in small lymph nodes.

Clinical respiratory motion correction software (reconstruct, register and averaged-RRA), for 18F-FDG-PET-CT: phantom validation, practical implications and patient evaluation

OBJECTIVE

On fluorine-18 fludeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) CT of pulmonary or hepatic lesions, standard uptake value (SUV) is often underestimated due to patient breathing. The aim of this study is to validate, on phantom and patient data, a motion correction algorithm [reconstruct, register and averaged (RRA)] implemented on a PET-CT system.

METHODS

Three phantoms containing five spheres filled with ¹⁸F-FDG and suspended in a water or Styrofoam^®18F-FDG-filled tank to create different contrasts and attenuation environment were acquired on a Discovery GE710. The spheres were animated with a 2-cm longitudinal respiratory-based movement. Respiratory-gated (RRA) and ungated PET images were compared with static reference images (without movement). The optimal acquisition time, number of phases and the best phase within the respiratory cycle were investigated. The impact of irregular motion was also investigated. Quantification impact was computed on each sphere. Quantification improvement on 28 lung lesions was also investigated.

RESULTS

Phantoms: 4 min was required to obtain a stable quantification with the RRA method. The reference phase and the number of phases used for RRA did not affect the quantification which was similar on static acquisitions but different on ungated images. The results showed that the maximum standard uptake value (SUV_max) restoration is majored for the smallest spheres (≤2.1 ml).

PATIENTS

SUV_max on RRA and ungated acquisitions were statistically different to the SUV_max on whole-body images (p = 0.05) but not different from each other (mean SUV_max: 7.0 ± 7.8 vs 6.9 ± 7.8, p = 0.23 on RRA and ungated images, respectively). We observed a statistically significant correlation between SUV restoration and lesion displacement, with a real SUV quantitation improvement for lesion with movement >1.2 mm.

CONCLUSION

According to the results obtained using phantoms, RRA method is promising, showing a real impact on the lesion quantification on phantom data. With regard to the patient study, our results showed a trend towards an increase in the SUVs and a decrease in the volume between the ungated and RRA data. We also noticed a statistically significant correlation between the quantitative restoration obtained with RRA compared with ungated data and lesion displacement, indicating that the RRA approach should be reserved to patients with small lesions or nodes moving with a displacement larger than 1.2 cm. Advances in knowledge: This article investigates the performances of motion correction software recently introduced in PET. The conclusion revealed that such respiratory motion correction approach shows a real impact on the lesion quantification but must be reserved to the patient for whom lesion displacement was confirmed and high enough to clearly impact lesion evaluation.

Breath-hold and free-breathing F-18-FDG-PET/CT in malignant melanoma-detection of additional tumoral foci and effects on quantitative parameters

During PET/CT acquisition, respiratory motion generates artifacts in the form of breath-related blurring, which may impair lesion detectability and diagnostic accuracy. This observational study was undertaken to verify whether breath-hold F-18-FDG-PET/CT (bhPET) detects additional foci compared to free-breathing PET/CT (fbPET) in cases of malignant melanoma, and to assess the impact of breath-holding on standard uptake values (SUV) and metabolic isocontoured volume (mVic40).Thirty-four patients with melanoma were examined. BhPET and fbPET findings of 117 lesions were compared and correlated with standard contrast-enhanced (ce) CT and MRI for lesion verification. Quantitative parameters (SUVmax, SUVmean, and mVic40) were assessed for both methods and evaluated by linear regression and Spearman correlation. The impact of lesion size and time interval between investigations was analyzed.In 1 patient, a CT-confirmed liver metastasis was seen only on bhPET but not on fbPET. At bhPET, SUVmax, and SUVmean proved significantly higher and mVic40 significantly lower than at fbPET. The positive effect on SUVmax and SUVmean was more pronounced in smaller lesions, whereas the time interval between bhPET and fbPET did not influence SUV or mVic40.In our patient cohort, bhPET yielded significantly higher SUV and provided improved volumetric lesion definition, particularly of smaller lesions. Also one additional liver lesion was identified. Breath-hold PET/CT is technically feasible, and may become clinically useful when fine quantitative evaluations are needed.

Breath-hold [68Ga]DOTA-TOC PET/CT in neuroendocrine tumors: detection of additional lesions and effects on quantitative parameters

BACKGROUND

Respiratory motion during PET/CT acquisition generates artifacts in the form of breath-related blurring, which influences the lesion detectability and diagnostic accuracy. The goal of this study was to verify whether breath-hold [68Ga]DOTA-TOC PET/CT (bhPET) allows detection of additional foci compared to free-breathing PET/CT (fbPET), and to assess the impact of breath-holding on standard uptake values (SUV) and isocontoured volume (Vic40) in patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NET).

METHODS

Patients with NET (N.=39) were included in this study. BhPET and fbPET characteristics of 96 lesions were compared, and correlated with standard contrast-enhanced (ce) CT and MRI for lesion verification. Quantitative parameters SUV (max and mean) and Vic40 were assessed for both methods and evaluated by linear regression and Spearman's correlation. The impact of lesion size, localization and time interval between investigations was also analyzed.

RESULTS

bhPET identified one additional metastasis not seen at fbPET but visible at ceMRI. Another additional bhPET focus did not have a morphological correlate. At bhPET, the SUVmax and SUVmean proved significantly higher and the Vic40 significantly lower than at fbPET. Lesion size, localization and time intervals did not impact significantly on SUV or Vic40.

CONCLUSIONS

Currently, routine use of breath-hold [68Ga]DOTA-TOC PET/CT cannot be recommended as only one additional lesion was identified. Therefore, bhPET has currently no indication in patients with NET. If technical improvements regarding PET/CT scanner sensitivity are available, bhPET should be reevaluated in the future.