Effectiveness of Florbetapir PET Imaging in Changing Patient Management.

Aims: To evaluate the impact of amyloid PET imaging on diagnosis and patient management in a multicenter, randomized, controlled study.

Methods: Physicians identified patients seeking a diagnosis for mild cognitive impairment or dementia, possibly due to Alzheimer disease (AD), and recorded a working diagnosis and a management plan. The patients underwent florbetapir PET scanning and were randomized to either immediate or delayed (1-year) feedback regarding amyloid status.

Quantitation of PET signal as an adjunct to visual interpretation of florbetapir imaging.

Purpose: This study examined the feasibility of using quantitation to augment interpretation of florbetapir PET amyloid imaging.

Methods: A total of 80 physician readers were trained on quantitation of florbetapir PET images and the principles for using quantitation to augment a visual read. On day 1, the readers completed a visual read of 96 scans (46 autopsy-verified and 50 from patients seeking a diagnosis).