RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Fewer-Angle SPECT/CT Blood Pool Imaging for Infection and Inflammation
JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
JO J. Nucl. Med. Technol.
FD Society of Nuclear Medicine
SP 39
OP 43
DO 10.2967/jnmt.120.256933
VO 49
IS 1
A1 Phillips, William T.
A1 Gorzell, Brandon C.
A1 Martinez, Robert A.
A1 Salman, Umber A.
A1 Cooper, Albert W.
A1 Stocker, Derek J.
A1 Adams, Chad C.
YR 2021
UL http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/49/1/39.abstract
AB A new protocol for rapid SPECT/CT blood pool imaging consisting of fewer image-angle acquisitions (fewer-angle SPECT/CT, or FASpecT/CT) was evaluated for localization of focal sites of soft-tissue inflammation, infection, and osteomyelitis. Methods: Immediately after dynamic flow and standard planar blood pool imaging with 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate, FASpecT/CT was performed with a dual-head γ-camera consisting of 6 steps over 360°, 12 total images with 30° of separation between angles, and 30 s per image, requiring a total imaging time of approximately 3 min. Images were reconstructed using iterative ordered-subset expectation maximization. Before use in a patient-care setting, various FASpecT/CT acquisition protocols were modeled using a phantom to determine the minimum number of stops and the stop duration required to produce a reliable image. Results: FASpecT/CT images provided excellent 3-dimensional localization of spine osteomyelitis, soft-tissue infection of the foot, and tendonitis of the hand and foot using a 3-min image acquisition time. The FASpecT/CT acquisition protocol required 1.3–3.5 min, including camera movement time. This was a reduction of 72%–90% from the time required for the standard 60-angle, 20-s SPECT/CT acquisition. Conclusion: The ability of FASpecT/CT blood pool images to help localize focal sites of hyperemia and inflammation can increase exam sensitivity and specificity. Additionally, using a FASpecT/CT protocol decreases imaging time by up to 90%.