Quantitative relationship between coronary artery calcium and myocardial blood flow by hybrid rubidium-82 PET/CT imaging in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.

Background: We assessed the relationship between coronary artery calcium (CAC) score, myocardial blood flow (MBF) and coronary flow reserve (CFR) in patients undergoing hybrid Rb positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging for suspected CAD. We also evaluated if CAC score is able to predict a reduced CFR independently from conventional coronary risk factors.

Methods: A total of 637 (mean age 58 ± 13 years) consecutive patients were studied.

The performance of quantitation methods in the evaluation of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infection: A technical review.

Background: Quantitative assessment of [F]-FDG PET/CT images has been shown to be useful in the diagnosis of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infection. This study aimed to compare the accuracy of various quantitative methods, using the same patient cohort and to assess the utility of dual time point imaging.

Methods: The study comprised a retrospective review of 80 [F]-FDG PET/CT studies.

Early diagnosis of cardiac implantable electronic device generator pocket infection using ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT.

Aims: To examine the utility of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET/CT) in the early diagnosis of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) generator pocket infection.

Methods And Results: A total of 86 patients with CIEDs were evaluated with (18)F-FDG PET/CT imaging: 46 with suspected generator pocket infection and 40 without any history of infection. (18)F-FDG activity in the region of the generator pocket was expressed as a semi-quantitative ratio (SQR)-defined as the maximum count rate around the CIED divided by the mean count rate between normal right and left lung parenchyma.

Metal artefact reduction algorithms prevent false positive results when assessing patients for cardiac implantable electronic device infection.

Software-based metal artefact reduction (MAR) techniques are available to reduce artefacts from cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) in the CT data. The impact of disabling MAR techniques on quantification of 18F-FDG uptake around the CIED has not been examined. We consider the importance of enabling MAR in patients with suspected CIED infection to prevent inaccuracies in quantification of tissue tracer uptake on the attenuation-corrected PET images.

Comparison of occupational radiation exposure from myocardial perfusion imaging with Rb-82 PET and Tc-99m SPECT.

Objective: Rubidium-82 (Rb-82) PET myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) has superior diagnostic accuracy, at least similar prognostic value, and lower patient radiation exposure when compared with technetium-99m single-photon emission computed tomography (Tc-99m SPECT) MPI. The aim of this study was to compare occupational radiation exposure from the two modalities and show that improvements for the patient do not come at a cost to staff.

Materials And Methods: Electronic personal dosimeters were worn by staff involved in the administration and imaging of routine clinical Tc-99m SPECT and Rb-82 PET MPI, and during tracer production and QC.

A comparison between upright and supine myocardial perfusion imaging with attenuation correction.

Objective: The Digirad Cardius XACT is an upright myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) single photon emission computed tomography system offering low-dose computed tomography for attenuation correction (AC). This study compares patient acceptability and image appearance for both non-AC and AC images on the XACT with supine MPI performed on a GE Infinia Hawkeye.

Patients And Methods: A total of 47 patients [29 male patients; mean (range) BMI, 29.

Voxel-wise quantification of myocardial blood flow with cardiovascular magnetic resonance: effect of variations in methodology and validation with positron emission tomography.

Background: Quantitative assessment of myocardial blood flow (MBF) from cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) perfusion images appears to offer advantages over qualitative assessment. Currently however, clinical translation is lacking, at least in part due to considerable disparity in quantification methodology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of common methodological differences in CMR voxel-wise measurement of MBF, using position emission tomography (PET) as external validation.

Computed tomography automatic exposure control techniques in 18F-FDG oncology PET-CT scanning.

Objectives: Computed tomography (CT) automatic exposure control (AEC) systems are now used in all modern PET-CT scanners. A collaborative study was undertaken to compare AEC techniques of the three major PET-CT manufacturers for fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose half-body oncology imaging.

Materials And Methods: An audit of 70 patients was performed for half-body CT scans taken on a GE Discovery 690, Philips Gemini TF and Siemens Biograph mCT (all 64-slice CT).

Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy using rubidium-82 positron emission tomography.

Introduction: Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) is an established non-invasive technique for the diagnosis and management of patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease. Because of the wealth of prognostic data, MPS single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is the most commonly used functional test to detect inducible ischaemia. However, the increasing availability of positron emission tomography (PET) scanners for oncology along with the introduction of the generator-produced PET tracer rubidium-82 (⁸²Rb) has helped the growth of MPS PET.

Assessment of a protocol for routine simultaneous myocardial blood flow measurement and standard myocardial perfusion imaging with rubidium-82 on a high count rate positron emission tomography system.

Objectives: High count rate positron emission tomography (PET) systems offer the potential for accurate myocardial blood flow (MBF) quantification during first-pass dynamic imaging in conjunction with standard rubidium-82 (Rb-82) PET myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). We investigate the feasibility of this using a Siemens Biograph mCT.

Materials And Methods: Current routine clinical PET MPI is performed with 1480 MBq (40 mCi) Rb-82.

Evaluation of a decision support system for interpretation of myocardial perfusion gated SPECT.

Purpose: We have recently presented a decision support system for interpreting myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS). In this study, we wanted to evaluate the system in a separate hospital from where it was trained and to compare it with a quantification software package.

Methods: A completely automated method based on neural networks was trained for the interpretation of MPS regarding myocardial ischaemia and infarction using 418 MPS from one hospital.

The added value of ECG-gating for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction using myocardial perfusion scintigraphy and artificial neural networks.

To assess the value of ECG-gating for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction using myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) and an artificial neural network. A total of 422 patients referred for MPS were studied using a one day (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin protocol. Adenosine stress combined with submaximal dynamic exercise was used.

Left ventricular function parameters obtained from gated myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging: a comparison of two data processing systems.

Background And Aim: The Cedars-Sinai Quantitative Gated Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) (QGS) program, used to quantify left ventricular function parameters from gated myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS), has been extensively validated and compared with other methods of quantification. However, little is known about the reproducibility of QGS on different processing systems. This study compared the findings of QGS running on workstations provided by two different manufacturers.