UK audit of analysis of quantitative parameters from renography data generated using a physical phantom.

Background: In this second UK audit of quantitative parameters obtained from renography, phantom simulations were used in cases in which the 'true' values could be estimated, allowing the accuracy of the parameters measured to be assessed.

Materials And Methods: A renal physical phantom was used to generate a set of three phantom simulations (six kidney functions) acquired on three different gamma camera systems. A total of nine phantom simulations and three real patient studies were distributed to UK hospitals participating in the audit.

A novel method for more accurately mapping the surface temperature of ultrasonic transducers.

This paper introduces a novel method for measuring the surface temperature of ultrasound transducer membranes and compares it with two standard measurement techniques. The surface temperature rise was measured as defined in the IEC Standard 60601-2-37. The measurement techniques were (i) thermocouple, (ii) thermal camera and (iii) novel infra-red (IR) "micro-sensor.

(18)F-FDG PET-CT simulation for non-small-cell lung cancer: effect in patients already staged by PET-CT.

Purpose: Positron emission tomography (PET), in addition to computed tomography (CT), has an effect in target volume definition for radical radiotherapy (RT) for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In previously PET-CT staged patients with NSCLC, we assessed the effect of using an additional planning PET-CT scan for gross tumor volume (GTV) definition.

Methods And Materials: A total of 28 patients with Stage IA-IIIB NSCLC were enrolled.

UK audit of glomerular filtration rate measurement in 2001.

Objective: To investigate the consistency of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) calculation from plasma sampling in the UK.

Methods: Ten patients' data sets from plasma sampling measurements of GFR were distributed throughout the UK. The data included count rates from four samples taken between 2 and 4 h after injection, a diluted sample of injected dose for standardisation, the patient's height, weight, age and sex.

A Monte Carlo analysis technique applied to cerebral perfusion SPECT scans.

Objective: Voxel-based techniques are used to provide objective analyses of SPECT scans. The aim of this study was to develop a voxel-based analysis technique that uses a Monte Carlo method of statistical inference and assess this analysis technique for application to cerebral perfusion SPECT scans.

Methods: Assessment of the validity of this non-parametric, Monte Carlo method of statistical inference has been performed for a range of study designs, image characteristics and analysis parameters using phantom SPECT and Gaussian images.

UK audit of left ventricular ejection fraction estimation from equilibrium ECG gated blood pool images.

Purpose: To examine the variability of results obtained from computer analysis of left ventricular gated blood pool (LVGBP) images by nuclear medicine centres in the UK.

Methods: Twelve data sets of LVGBP images were distributed via commercial software suppliers to nuclear medicine centres in the UK. Two of the data sets were duplicates and three were acquired from the same patient with different total counts in the images.

UK audit of relative lung function measurement from planar radionuclide imaging.

Background: Quantitative measurements of regional lung ventilation and perfusion are useful adjuncts to image interpretation.

Aim: This study investigated the accuracy and precision of the software used to carry out such measurements in the UK.

Methods: Ten examples of perfusion distribution, representing the range of patterns expected in practice, were simulated on computer using a segmental model of the lung and real three-dimensional lung shapes obtained from magnetic resonance images.

Audit of nuclear medicine scientific and technical standards.

The British Nuclear Medicine Society has developed a process for the service-specific organizational audit of nuclear medicine departments. This process identified the need for a scheme suitable for the audit of the scientific and technical standards of a department providing such a service. This document has evolved following audit visits of a number of UK departments.

Value of sequential monitoring of left ventricular ejection fraction in the management of thalassemia major.

Regular monitoring of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) for thalassemia major is widely practiced, but its informativeness for iron chelation treatment is unclear. Eighty-one patients with thalassemia major but no history of cardiac disease underwent quantitative annual LVEF monitoring by radionuclide ventriculography for a median of 6.0 years (interquartile range, 2-12 years).

A comparison of three radionuclide myocardial perfusion tracers in clinical practice: the ROBUST study.

Unlabelled: There are no large studies available to guide the selection of thallium (Tl), methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) or tetrofosmin (Tf) for myocardial perfusion imaging. Our objective was to compare the technical and clinical performance of the three in routine clinical practice. We randomised 2,560 patients to receive Tl, MIBI or Tf.