Detection of diffuse abnormal perfusion in SPECT using a normal brain atlas.

Visual assessment, with significant inter- or intraobserver variability, is still the norm for the evaluation of Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT) cerebral perfusion studies. We present in this paper an automated method for screening SPECT studies to detect diffuse disseminated abnormalities based on a computerized atlas of normal regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). To generate the atlas, a set of normal brain SPECT studies are registered together.