Measuring SPECT myocardial blood flow at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.

The introduction of new cardiac SPECT cameras has made it practical to do dynamic SPECT imaging and opened the door to performing myocardial blood flow (MBF) imaging with SPECT. In this paper, we describe in detail our approach to dynamic SPECT MBF imaging using a multi-pinhole cardiac SPECT camera and commercially available kinetic analysis software. We use a 1-day rest/stress protocol with 370 MBq injected at rest and 1,000 MBq at stress with a 1- to 2-hour interval between rest and stress imaging. The tracer is injected mechanically over 30 seconds using a syringe pump. Projection data are acquired in listmode for a duration of 11 minutes and then reframed into a dynamic series. Each image is reconstructed independently using vendor-supplied software. The dynamic images are corrected for residual activity and manually corrected for motion using rigid-body translation. The uptake rate constant, K1, is calculated using a 1-tissue-compartment kinetic model and converted to MBF using a previously determined extraction fraction correction.

A new cardiac phantom for dynamic SPECT.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, with the advance of myocardial blood flow (MBF) measurement capability in dynamic single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) systems, significant effort has been devoted to validation of the new capability. Unfortunately, the mechanical phantoms available for the validation process lack essential features-they either have a constant radiotracer concentration or they have rigid (static) walls unable to simulate cardiac beating. METHODS AND RESULTS: We have developed a mechanical cardiac phantom that is able to mimic physiological radiotracer variation in the left ventricle (LV) cavity and in the myocardium (M), while performing beating-like motion. We have also developed a mathematical model of the phantom, allowing a description of the radiotracer concentrations in both regions (LV, M) as a function of time, which served as a tool for experiment planning and to accurately mimic physiological-like time-activity curves (TACs). A net retention model for the phantom was also developed, which served to compute the theoretical (i.e., expected) MBF of the phantom from measured quantities only, and thus validate the MBF reported by the SPECT system. In this paper, phantom experiments were performed on a GE Discovery NM 530c SPECT system. CONCLUSIONS: A novel dynamic cardiac phantom for emission tomography has been developed. The new phantom is capable of producing a wide range of TACs that can mimic physiological (and potentially in the future, pathological) curves, similar to those observed in dynamic SPECT systems. SPECT-reported MBF values were validated against known (measured) activity of the injected radiotracer from phantom experiments, which allowed to determine the accuracy of the GE Discovery 530c SPECT system.

Head-to-head comparison of a CZT-based all-purpose SPECT camera and a dedicated CZT cardiac device for myocardial perfusion and functional analysis.

PURPOSE: To compare the outputs of a novel all-purpose SPECT camera equipped with CZT detectors (Discovery NM/CT 670) with the state-of-the-art represented by a dedicated CZT (Alcyone, Discovery 530c) cardiac camera in patients submitted to myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). METHODS: We included 19 patients that underwent sequential low-dose 99mTc-tetrofosmin (148-185 MBq during stress and 296-370 MBq at rest) MPI with Alcyone and Discovery 670 cameras. Quantitative (% tracer's uptake) and semi-quantitative analyses of perfusion data were performed for each scan. Moreover, major left ventricular (LV) functional and structural parameters were derived from each camera and compared. RESULTS: The two cameras showed excellent correlation for segmental myocardial % uptake at stress (R = 0.90; P < 0.001) and at rest (R = 0.88; P < 0.001) with narrow Bland-Altman limits of agreement. The level of diagnostic agreement of Discovery 670 and Alcyone cameras regarding perfusion analysis was excellent (Cohen's κ 0.85). Similarly, the two cameras showed excellent correlation in the evaluation of LV ejection fraction (R = 0.95), peak filling rate (R = 0.97), and mass (R = 0.98). CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary results suggest that MPI with an all-purpose Discovery 670 CZT-SPECT camera is feasible, comparing well with the current state-of-the-art technology.

Assessment of ejection fraction and heart perfusion using myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography in Finland and Estonia: a multicenter phantom study.

OBJECTIVES: Myocardial SPECT/CT imaging is frequently performed to assess myocardial perfusion and dynamic parameters of heart function, such as ejection fraction (EF). However, potential pitfalls exist in the imaging chain that can unfavorably affect diagnosis and treatment. We performed a national cardiac quality control study to investigate how much SPECT/CT protocols vary between different nuclear medicine units in Finland, and how this may affect the heart perfusion and EF values. METHODS: Altogether, 21 nuclear medicine units participated with 27 traditional SPECT/CT systems and two cardiac-centered IQ-SPECT systems. The reproducibility of EF and the uniformity of perfusion were studied using a commercial dynamic heart phantom. SPECT/CT acquisitions were performed and processed at each participating unit using their own clinical protocol and with a standardized protocol. The effects of acquisition protocols and analysis routines on EF estimates and uniformity of perfusion were studied. RESULTS: Considerable variation in EF estimates and in the uniformity of perfusion were observed between the units. Uniformity of perfusion was improved in some units after applying the higher count-statistic standard acquisition protocol. EF estimates varied more due to differences in analysis routines than as a result of different acquisition protocols. The results obtained with the two IQ-SPECT systems differed substantially from the traditional multipurpose cameras. CONCLUSION: On average, the EF and heart perfusion were accurately estimated by SPECT/CT, but high errors could be produced if the acquisition and analysis routines were poorly optimized. Eight of the 21 participants altered their imaging protocol after this quality control tour.

Rubidium-82 generator yield and efficiency for PET perfusion imaging: Comparison of two clinical systems.

INTRODUCTION: Strontium-82/Rubidium-82 (82Sr/82Rb) generators are used widely for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of myocardial perfusion. In this study, the 82Rb isotope yield and production efficiency of two FDA-approved 82Sr/82Rb generators were compared. METHODS: N = 515 sequential daily quality assurance (QA) reports from 9 CardioGen-82® and 9 RUBY-FILL® generators were reviewed over a period of 2 years. A series of test elutions was performed at different flow-rates on the RUBY-FILL® system to determine an empirical correction-factor used to convert CardioGen-82® daily QA values of 82Rb activity (dose-calibrator 'maximum' of 50 mL elution at 50 mL·min-1) to RUBY-FILL® equivalent values (integrated 'total' of 35 mL elution at 20 mL·min-1). The generator yield (82Rb) and production efficiency (82Rb yield/82Sr parent activity) were measured and compared after this conversion to a common scale. RESULTS: At the start of clinical use, the system reported 82Rb activity from daily QA was lower for CardioGen-82® vs RUBY-FILL® (2.3 ± 0.2 vs 3.0 ± 0.2 GBq, P < 0.001) despite having similar 82Sr activity. Dose-calibrator 'maximum' (CardioGen-82®) values were found to under-estimate the integrated 'total' (RUBY-FILL®) activity by ~ 24% at 50 mL·min-1. When these data were used to convert the CardioGen-82 values to a common measurement scale (integrated total activity) the CardioGen-82® efficiency remained slightly lower than the RUBY-FILL® system on average (88 ± 4% vs 95 ± 4%, P < 0.001). The efficiency of 82Rb production improved for both systems over the respective periods of clinical use. CONCLUSIONS: 82Rb generator yield was significantly under-estimated using the CardioGen-82® vs RUBY-FILL® daily QA procedure. When generator yield was expressed as the integrated total activity for both systems, the estimated 82Rb production efficiency of the CardioGen-82® system was ~ 7% lower than RUBY-FILL® over the full period of clinical use.

Current Status of Myocardial Perfusion Imaging With New SPECT/CT Cameras.

Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) has a major role in the management of coronary artery disease. Recent technological advances regarding SPECT detectors with the use of solid-state detectors has allowed for improved imaging quality since a decade with dramatic dose and/or time reduction of imaging protocols due to improved sensitivity and spatial resolution, and is now performed as a routine exam. Interestingly, this new technology has modified our everyday practice, from acquisition protocols (low dose and ultra-fast protocols) to image semiology. Numerous studies have shown how these technical advances have allowed for improved patient management, with similar or improved diagnostic and prognostic information derived from MPI. These improvements have also led to the straightforward implementation of myocardial blood flow measurement. This article reviews the current status of MPI using new SPECT and SPECT/CT cameras.

First comparison of performances between the new whole-body cadmium-zinc-telluride SPECT-CT camera and a dedicated cardiac CZT camera for myocardial perfusion imaging: Analysis of phantom and patients.

BACKGROUND: Dedicated cardiac Cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) cameras show superior performances compared with Anger systems, particularly in terms of spatial resolution and count sensitivity. This study evaluated the performances of a new polyvalent whole body CZT camera (DNM 670CZT) compared with a cardiac dedicated CZT camera (DNM 530c) for myocardial perfusion SPECT. METHODS: The spatial resolution was evaluated with three linear sources filled with 99mTc. We used a cardiac phantom to evaluate count sensitivity, sharpness index, contrast-to-noise ratio, wall thickness, non-uniformity index, perfusion scores and ventricle volumes for both cameras. The impact of matrix size, and acquisition time was investigated. Concordance between the two cameras was evaluated in patients using QPS/QGS software for quantitative segmental perfusion, motion and thickness scores. RESULTS: The spatial resolution was identical with the two cameras. Count sensitivity of the DNM 670CZT was twofold lower compared with the DNM 530c, leading to lower sharpness index and contrast-to-noise ratio. The wall thickness and the myocardial volumes were similar. Visual and quantitative assessments of the perfusion patterns have shown a good concordance of the two cameras on phantoms and in patients. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the feasibility of myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging using the new whole-body DNM 670CZT camera.

Combined evaluation of regional coronary artery calcium and myocardial perfusion by 82Rb PET/CT in predicting lesion-related outcome.

PURPOSE: Cardiac imaging with positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) allows measurement of coronary artery calcium (CAC), stress-induced myocardial ischemia and myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR). We evaluated the prognostic role of the combined assessment of regional CAC score, ischemic total perfusion defect (ITPD) and MPR in predicting lesion-related outcome in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: We studied 206 patients with suspected CAD referred to 82Rb PET/CT cardiac imaging and available coronary angiographic data. The outcome end points were cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction or coronary revascularization. RESULTS: Compared to vessels without event, those with event showed higher CAC score and ITPD, and lower hyperemic myocardial blood flow and MPR (all p < 0.001). At Cox regression multivariable analysis, significant CAD (≥50% stenosis) (p < 0.001), CAC score ≥ 300 (p < 0.01) and MPR <2 (p < 0.01) were independent predictors of events. The decision trees analysis for the identification of events produced five terminal nodes. The initial split was on CAC score values. For vessels with CAC <300 and MPR ≥2, no further split was performed, while vessels with CAC <300 and MPR <2 were further stratified by ITPD. For vessels with CAC ≥300 a further stratification was performed only by MPR. The worst prognosis was observed in vessels with CAC ≥300 and MPR <2 and in vessels with CAC <300, MPR <2 and ITPD ≥5%. CONCLUSION: The combination of CAC score and MPR is useful to predict the lesion-related outcome in the presence of significant CAD.

Low-dose dynamic myocardial perfusion imaging by CZT-SPECT in the identification of obstructive coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: We measured myocardial blood flow (MBF) and myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR) by a dynamic low-dose CZT-SPECT protocol in patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease (CAD) and investigated the capability of dynamic data in predicting obstructive CAD. A total of 173 patients with suspected or known CAD underwent dynamic CZT-SPECT after the injection of 155 MBq and 370 MBq of 99mTc-sestamibi for rest and stress imaging, respectively. Standard rest and stress imaging were performed at the end of each dynamic scan. A total perfusion defect (TPD) < 5% were considered normal. Obstructive CAD was defined as ≥ 70% stenosis at coronary angiography. RESULTS: Global MPR was lower (p < 0.05) in patients with abnormal compared with those with normal MPI (2.40 ± 0.7 vs. 2.70 ± 0.8). A weak, albeit significant correlation between TPD and MPR (r = - 0.179, p < 0.05) was found. In 91 patients with available angiographic data, hyperemic MBF (2.59 ± 1.2 vs. 3.24 ± 1.1 ml/min/g) and MPR (1.96 ± 0.7 vs. 2.74 ± 0.9) were lower (both p < 0.05) in patients with obstructive CAD (n = 21) compared with those without (n = 70). At univariable analysis, TPD, hyperemic MBF, and MPR were significant predictors of obstructive CAD, whereas only MPR was independent predictor at multivariable analysis (p < 0.05). At per vessels analysis, regional hyperemic MBF (2.59 ± 1.2 vs. 3.24 ± 1.1 ml/min/g) and regional MPR (1.96 ± 0.7 vs. 2.74 ± 0.9) were lower in the 31 vessels with obstructive CAD compared with 242 vessels without (both p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with suspected or known CAD, MPR assessed by low-dose dynamic CZT-SPECT showed a good correlation with myocardial perfusion imaging findings and it could be useful to predict obstructive CAD.

Impact of iterative reconstruction with resolution recovery in myocardial perfusion SPECT: phantom and clinical studies.

The corrections of photon attenuation, scatter, and depth-dependent blurring improve image quality in myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging; however, the combined corrections induce artifacts. Here, we present the single correction method of depth-dependent blurring and its impact for myocardial perfusion distribution in phantom and clinical studies. The phantom and clinical patient images were acquired with two conditions: circular and noncircular orbits of gamma cameras yielded constant and variable depth-dependent blurring, respectively. An iterative reconstruction with the correction method of depth-dependent was used to reconstruct the phantom and clinical patient images. We found that the single correction method improved the robustness of phantom images whether the images contained constant or variable depth-dependent blurring. The myocardial perfusion databases generated from 72 normal patients exhibited uniform perfusion distribution of whole myocardium. In summary, the single correction method of depth-dependent blurring with iterative reconstruction is helpful for myocardial perfusion SPECT.

Utilização de radiofármacos marcados com tecnécio 99m como potenciais marcadores na obtenção de imagens de perfusão miocárdica / Using technetium-99m-marked radiopharmaceuticals as potential markers in obtaining myocardial perfusion images

A Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS) aponta as doenças cardiovasculares como a principal causa de morte no mundo, caracterizando um grave problema na saúde pública. Os três tipos de doenças que mais acarretam em óbito são: acidente vascular cerebral, seguido de infarto agudo do miocárdio e outras doenças isquêmicas do coração.Apesar dos avanços terapêuticos das últimas décadas, o infarto ainda apresenta altas taxas de mortalidade. Para as pessoas com doenças cardiovasculares ou com alto risco cardiovascular é fundamental o diagnóstico precoce da doença. A cintilografia de perfusão miocárdica é um método de investigação diagnóstica e prognóstico não invasivo de várias doenças cardiovasculares. Esse exame consiste na administração de um radiofármaco para obtenção de imagens de perfusão cardíaca. Dois traçadores marcados com Tecnécio-99m são amplamente utilizados na clínica, porém, esses dois radiofármacos não atendem aos requisitos de um agente de perfusão ideal, por sofrerem significativa excreção biliar, produzindo artefatos na imagem, o que pode inteferir um diagnóstico preciso, já que a qualidade é comprometida, e prolongando o tempo de obtenção da imagem após a administração do radiotraçador. Para superar essa lacuna, pesquisadores vêm estudando novos complexos catiônicos marcados com o Tecnécio. O objetivo desse artigo é fazer uma revisão, abordando a literatura sobre os radiofármacos que estão sendo estudados, suas vantagens e desvantagens sobre os traçadores já utilizados, e sobre sua potencial utilização na obtenção de imagem de perfusão cardíaca.

The World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledges cardiovascular diseases as the leading cause of death in the world, being regarded as a serious public health issue. The three types of diseases with the greatest mortality are: stroke, followed by acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and other ischemic heart diseases. Despite the therapeutic advances of the last decades, AMI still presents high mortality rates. Early diagnosis is essential for people with cardiovascular diseases or with a high cardiovascular risk. Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy is a method of diagnostic investigation and noninvasive prognosis of various cardiovascular diseases. This examination consists in the administration of a radiopharmaceutical drug to obtain images of cardiac perfusion. Two tracers labeled with Technetium-99m are widely used, however, these two radiopharmaceuticals do not meet the requirements of an ideal perfusion agent, because they have a high liver absorption, producing artifacts in the image, which can disrupt a precise diagnosis, since the quality is compromised, and prolonging the imaging time after administration of the radioisotope. To overcome this gap, researchers have been studying new cationic complexes marked with technetium. The objective of this article is to review the literature on the radiopharmaceuticals being studied, their advantages and disadvantages on the tracers already used, and their potential use in obtaining a cardiac perfusion image.

Feasibility of myocardial perfusion imaging studies in morbidly obese patients with a cadmium-zinc-telluride cardiac camera.

BACKGROUND: A novel cardiac SPECT camera with cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) based technology has a fixed array of semiconductor detectors paired with pinhole collimators focused on the heart. Image acquisition in obese patients can be challenging because of much smaller detector field of view compared to conventional gamma cameras. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact on high body mass on the feasibility of CZT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). The additional aim was to investigate the mechanism of the banana-shaped/obesity artifact, as referred to in literature, and to attempt at simulating it on a phantom study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Study group consisted of 43 patients with morbid obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2). All these patients underwent myocardial perfusion imaging on both CZT cardiac camera and general purpose SPECT/CT gamma camera. Control group consisted of all patients who underwent myocardial perfusion imaging on CZT camera throughout one calendar year and whose BMI was lower than 40 kg/m2. In this group, all repeated studies were re-analyzed for estimating the frequency of heart mispositioning in the camera field of view. The number of studies performed was 1180. A static cardiac phantom was used to simulate a banana-shaped artifact. A series of phantom acquisitions during which the phantom position was altered in the camera field of view was performed. RESULTS: In control group, 3.7% of all cardiac scintigrams required repetition, 18.9% of which were repeated due to wrong heart positioning; median BMI in this group of patients was 36.0. A banana-shaped artifact was observed in one female patient with BMI 36.0. In morbid obesity group, 32.6% of the studies were non-diagnostic with "truncation effect" on Scan Quality Control (QC). Median BMI in patients with diagnostic scans was 42.0, while in patients with not acceptable quality control test it was 45.0 (p < 0.05). Banana-shaped artifacts were observed in 5 non-diagnostic studies. In a phantom study an artifact of banana shape was obtained when gantry was distant from the phantom and target was on the edge of the camera field of view and was slightly truncated. CONCLUSIONS: Problem with heart mispositioning during imaging on the CZT camera affects less than 1% of all performed studies. Morbid obesity is not a contraindication to perform myocardia.

Prospective diagnostic performance of semiconductor SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging: wall thickening analysis reduces the need for an additional prone acquisition.

PURPOSE: To determine whether the assessment of regional wall thickening (WT) in addition to myocardial perfusion from stress supine acquisitions could compensate for the lack of prone acquisition and the corresponding decrease in the diagnostic performance of SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: The study group comprised 41 patients (123 vessels) with known or suspected CAD prospectively recruited for systematic prone and supine 201Tl stress SPECT MPI. The diagnostic performance of SPECT MPI was determined for various image sets including nongated supine images (supine NG), nongated combined prone and supine images (prone and supine NG) and gated supine images, allowing WT evaluation from NG images in addition to perfusion (supine NG + WT) using invasive coronary angiography and fractional flow reserve as the gold standards. RESULTS: The rate of false positives was significantly higher among the supine NG images (20.8%) than among either the prone and supine NG or the supine NG + WT images (3.3% and 2.7%, respectively, P < 0.05 vs. supine NG). Consequently, specificity was higher for the prone and supine NG images than for the supine NG images (96.1% vs. 76.1%, P < 0.01) and was highest for the supine NG + WT images (96.8%, P not significant vs. prone and supine NG), without significant differences in sensitivity (80.0%, 86.6% and 73.3%, respectively, P not significant for all comparisons). CONCLUSION: The diagnostic performance of supine stress SPECT MPI is improved when WT assessment of ischaemic segments is used as an additional diagnostic criterion to values not significantly different from those with combined prone and supine acquisitions.

Dynamic Stress Computed Tomography Perfusion With a Whole-Heart Coverage Scanner in Addition to Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography and Fractional Flow Reserve Computed Tomography Derived.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study were to test the diagnostic accuracy of integrated evaluation of dynamic myocardial computed tomography perfusion (CTP) on top of coronary computed tomography angiography (cCTA) plus fractional flow reserve computed tomography derived (FFRCT) by using a whole-heart coverage computed tomography (CT) scanner as compared with clinically indicated invasive coronary angiography (ICA) and invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR). BACKGROUND: Recently, new techniques such as dynamic stress computed tomography perfusion (stress-CTP) emerged as potential strategies to combine anatomical and functional evaluation in a one-shot scan. However, previous experiences with this technique were associated with high radiation exposure. METHODS: Eighty-five consecutive symptomatic patients scheduled for ICA were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent rest cCTA followed by stress dynamic CTP with a whole-heart coverage CT scanner (Revolution CT, GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, Wisconsin). FFRCT was also measured by using the rest cCTA dataset. The diagnostic accuracy to detect functionally significant coronary artery disease (CAD) in a vessel-based model of cCTA alone, cCTA+FFRCT, cCTA+CTP, or cCTA+FFRCT+CTP were assessed and compared by using ICA and invasive FFR as reference. The overall effective dose of dynamic CTP was also measured. RESULTS: The prevalence of obstructive CAD and functionally significant CAD was 77% and 57%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of cCTA alone, cCTA+FFRCT, and cCTA+CTP were 83% and 66%, 86% and 75%, and 73% and 86%, respectively. Both the addition of FFRCT and CTP improves the area under the curve (AUC: 0.876 and 0.878, respectively) as compared with cCTA alone (0.826; p < 0.05). The sequential strategy of cCTA+FFRCT+CTP showed the highest AUC (0.919; p < 0.05) as compared with all other strategies. The mean effective radiation dose (ED) for cCTA and stress CTP was 2.8 ± 1.2 mSv and 5.3 ± 0.7 mSv, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of dynamic stress CTP on top of cCTA and FFRCT provides additional diagnostic accuracy with acceptable radiation exposure.

Calibration-free beam hardening correction for myocardial perfusion imaging using CT.

PURPOSE: Computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (CT-MPI) and coronary CTA have the potential to make CT an ideal noninvasive imaging gatekeeper exam for invasive coronary angiography. However, beam hardening (BH) artifacts prevent accurate blood flow calculation in CT-MPI. BH correction methods require either energy-sensitive CT, not widely available, or typically, a calibration-based method in conventional CT. We propose a calibration-free, automatic BH correction (ABHC) method suitable for CT-MPI and evaluate its ability to reduce BH artifacts in single "static-perfusion" images and to create accurate myocardial blood flow (MBF) in dynamic CT-MPI. METHODS: In the algorithm, we used input CT DICOM images and iteratively optimized parameters in a polynomial BH correction until a BH-sensitive cost function was minimized on output images. An input image was segmented into a soft tissue image and a highly attenuating material (HAM) image containing bones and regions of high iodine concentrations, using mean HU and temporal enhancement properties. We forward projected HAM, corrected projection values according to a polynomial correction, and reconstructed a correction image to obtain the current iteration's BH corrected image. The cost function was sensitive to BH streak artifacts and cupping. We evaluated the algorithm on simulated CT and physical phantom images, and on preclinical porcine with optional coronary obstruction and clinical CT-MPI data. Assessments included measures of BH artifact in single images as well as MBF estimates. We obtained CT images on a prototype spectral detector CT (SDCT, Philips Healthcare) scanner that provided both conventional and virtual keV images, allowing us to quantitatively compare corrected CT images to virtual keV images. To stress test the method, we evaluated results on images from a different scanner (iCT, Philips Healthcare) and different kVp values. RESULTS: In a CT-simulated digital phantom consisting of water with iodine cylinder insets, BH streak artifacts between simulated iodine inserts were reduced from 13 ± 2 to 0 ± 1 HU. In a similar physical phantom having higher iodine concentrations, BH streak artifacts were reduced from 48 ± 6 to 1 ± 5 HU and cupping was reduced by 86%, from 248 to 23 HU. In preclinical CT-MPI images without coronary obstruction, BH artifact was reduced from 24 ± 6 HU to less than 5 ± 4 HU at peak enhancement. Standard deviation across different regions of interest (ROI) along the myocardium was reduced from 13.26 to 6.86 HU for ABHC, comparing favorably to measurements in the corresponding virtual keV image. Corrections greatly reduced variations in preclinical MBF maps as obtained in normal animals without obstruction (FFR = 1). Coefficients of variations were 22% (conventional CT), 9% (ABHC), and 5% (virtual keV). Moreover, variations in flow tended to be localized after ABHC, giving result which would not be confused with a flow deficit in a coronary vessel territory. CONCLUSION: The automated algorithm can be used to reduce BH artifact in conventional CT and improve CT-MPI accuracy particularly by removing regions of reduced estimated flow which might be misinterpreted as flow deficits.

Effect of respiratory motion on cardiac defect contrast in myocardial perfusion SPECT: a physical phantom study.

OBJECTIVE: Correction for respiratory motion in myocardial perfusion imaging requires sorting of emission data into respiratory windows where the intra-window motion is assumed to be negligible. However, it is unclear how much intra-window motion is acceptable. The aim of this study was to determine an optimal value of intra-window residual motion. METHODS: A custom-designed cardiac phantom was created and imaged with a standard dual-detector SPECT/CT system using Tc-99m as the radionuclide. Projection images were generated from the list-mode data simulating respiratory motion blur of several magnitudes from 0 (stationary phantom) to 20 mm. Cardiac defect contrasts in six anatomically different locations, as well as myocardial perfusion of apex, anterior, inferior, septal and lateral walls, were measured at each motion magnitude. Stationary phantom data were compared to motion-blurred data. Two physicians viewed the images and evaluated differences in cardiac defect visibility and myocardial perfusion. RESULTS: Significant associations were observed between myocardial perfusion in the anterior and inferior walls and respiratory motion. Defect contrasts were found to decline as a function of motion, but the magnitude of the decline depended on the location and shape of the defect. Defects located near the cardiac apex lost contrast more rapidly than those located on the anterior, inferior, septal and lateral wall. The contrast decreased by less than 5% at every location when the motion magnitude was 2 mm or less. According to a visual evaluation, there were differences in myocardial perfusion if the magnitude of the motion was greater than 1 mm, and there were differences in the visibility of the cardiac defect if the magnitude of the motion was greater than 9 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Intra-window respiratory motion should be limited to 2 mm to effectively correct for respiratory motion blur in myocardial perfusion SPECT.