Multicenter survey of PET/CT protocol parameters that affect standardized uptake values.

Clinical trials that evaluate cancer treatments may benefit from positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, which for many cancers can discriminate between effective and ineffective treatments. However, the image metrics used to quantify disease and evaluate treatment may be biased by many factors related to clinical protocols and PET system settings, many of which are site- and/or manufacturer-specific. An observational study was conducted using two surveys that were designed to record key sources of bias and variability in PET imaging.

Optimal FDG PET/CT volumetric parameters for risk stratification in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer: results from the ACRIN 6668/RTOG 0235 trial.

Purpose: In recent years, multiple studies have demonstrated the value of volumetric FDG-PET/CT parameters as independent prognostic factors in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We aimed to determine the optimal cut-off points of pretreatment volumetric FDG-PET/CT parameters in predicting overall survival (OS) in patients with locally advanced NSCLC and to recommend imaging biomarkers appropriate for routine clinical applications.

Methods: Patients with inoperable stage IIB/III NSCLC enrolled in ACRIN 6668/RTOG 0235 were included.

Performance Observations of Scanner Qualification of NCI-Designated Cancer Centers: Results From the Centers of Quantitative Imaging Excellence (CQIE) Program.

We present an overview of the Centers for Quantitative Imaging Excellence (CQIE) program, which was initiated in 2010 to establish a resource of clinical trial-ready sites within the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Cancer Centers (NCI-CCs) network. The intent was to enable imaging centers in the NCI-CCs network capable of conducting treatment trials with advanced quantitative imaging end points. We describe the motivations for establishing the CQIE, the process used to initiate the network, the methods of site qualification for positron emission tomography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, and the results of the evaluations over the subsequent 3 years.

Qualification of National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Centers for Quantitative PET/CT Imaging in Clinical Trials.

The National Cancer Institute developed the Centers for Quantitative Imaging Excellence (CQIE) initiative in 2010 to prequalify imaging facilities at all of the National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive and clinical cancer centers for oncology trials using advanced imaging techniques, including PET. Here we review the CQIE PET/CT scanner qualification process and results in detail. Over a period of approximately 5 y, sites were requested to submit a variety of phantoms, including uniform and American College of Radiology-approved phantoms, PET/CT images, and examples of clinical images.

Radiopharmaceutical Options for the Ventilation Part of Ventilation-Perfusion Scintigraphy Performed for the Indication of Pulmonary Embolism: US Practice Survey.

Purpose: This US survey aimed to determine (1) relative utilization of the 2 techniques, a gas radiopharmaceutical technique (GRT) versus aerosolized radiopharmaceutical technique (ART), in ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy done for pulmonary embolism indication and (2) radiopharmaceuticals (RFs) used.

Patients And Methods: Nuclear medicine physicians and technologists were sent a questionnaire asking which RF(s) their imaging facilities are using for ventilation imaging. Respondents were classified as reporting from academic/teaching facilities (ATFs) or from community-based facilities (CBFs).

Metabolic tumor volume as a prognostic imaging-based biomarker for head-and-neck cancer: pilot results from Radiation Therapy Oncology Group protocol 0522.

Purpose: To evaluate candidate fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) imaging biomarkers for head-and-neck chemoradiotherapy outcomes in the cooperative group trial setting.

Methods And Materials: Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) protocol 0522 patients consenting to a secondary FDG-PET/CT substudy were serially imaged at baseline and 8 weeks after radiation. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), SUV peak (mean SUV within a 1-cm sphere centered on SUVmax), and metabolic tumor volume (MTV) using 40% of SUVmax as threshold were obtained from primary tumor and involved nodes.

Clinical trials in molecular imaging: the importance of following the protocol.

Nuclear medicine technologists and investigators who perform imaging procedures in clinical trials often have not received training on clinical research regulations, such as Title 21, part 312, of the Code of Federal Regulations or Good Clinical Practices. These regulations directly affect implementation of the therapeutic or imaging protocol. Lack of understanding of the regulatory expectations in clinical research can lead to unintended errors or omissions in critical data that are needed for development of a new drug.