Abstract:
Background: Image reconstruction is crucial for improving overall image quality and diagnostic accuracy. Q.Clear is a novel reconstruction algorithm that reduces image noise. The aim of the present study is to assess the preferred Q.Clear β-level for digital [68Ga]Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT reconstruction vs. standard reconstruction (STD) for both overall scan and single-lesion visualization. Methods: Inclusion criteria: (1) patients with/suspected neuroendocrine tumors included in a prospective observational monocentric study between September 2019 and January 2022; (2) [68Ga]Ga-DOTANOC digital PET/CT and contrast-enhanced-CT (ceCT) performed at our center at the same time. Images were reconstructed with STD and with Q.Clear β-levels 800, 1000, and 1600. Scans were blindly reviewed by three nuclear-medicine experts: the preferred β-level reconstruction was independently chosen for the visual quality of both the overall scan and the most avid target lesion < 1 cm (t) and >1 cm (T). PET/CT results were compared to ceCT. Semiquantitative analysis was performed (STD vs. β1600) in T and t concordant at both PET/CT and ceCT. Subgroup analysis was also performed in patients presenting discordant t. Results: Overall, 52 patients were included. β1600 reconstruction was considered superior over the others for both overall scan quality and single-lesion detection in all cases. The only significantly different (p < 0.001) parameters between β1600 and STD were signal-to-noise liver ratio and standard deviation of the liver background. Lesion-dependent parameters were not significantly different in concordant T (n = 37) and t (n = 10). Among 26 discordant t, when PET was positive, all findings were confirmed as malignant. Conclusions: β1600 Q.Clear reconstruction for [68Ga]Ga-DOTANOC imaging is feasible and improves image quality for both overall and small-lesion assessment.
摘要:
背景:图像重建对于提高整体图像质量和诊断准确性至关重要。Q.Clear是一种新颖的重建算法,可以降低图像噪声。本研究的目的是评估数字[68Ga]Ga-DOTANOCPET/CT重建的首选Q.Clearβ-level与整体扫描和单病灶可视化的标准重建(STD)。方法:纳入标准:(1)在2019年9月至2022年1月期间纳入前瞻性观察性单心研究的患有/疑似神经内分泌肿瘤的患者;(2)在我们中心同时进行[68Ga]Ga-DOTANOC数字PET/CT和对比增强CT(ceCT)。用STD和Q.Clearβ水平800、1000和1600重建图像。三位核医学专家对扫描进行了盲目审查:针对整体扫描和最强烈的靶病变<1cm(t)和>1cm(T)的视觉质量,独立选择了首选的β水平重建。将PET/CT结果与ceCT进行比较。进行半定量分析(性病与β1600)在PET/CT和CECT的T和t一致。在表现不一致t的患者中也进行了亚组分析。结果:总体而言,包括52例患者。在所有情况下,在整体扫描质量和单病灶检测方面,β1600重建被认为优于其他重建。β1600和STD之间唯一显着差异(p<0.001)的参数是肝脏信噪比和肝脏背景的标准偏差。病变相关参数在一致T(n=37)和t(n=10)中没有显着差异。在26个不和谐的t中,当PET呈阳性时,所有发现均被证实为恶性.结论:β1600Q。[68Ga]Ga-DOTANOC成像的清晰重建是可行的,并且可以提高整体和小病灶评估的图像质量。