Evaluation of simultaneous 201Tl/99mTc dual-isotope cardiac SPECT imaging with model-based crosstalk compensation using canine studies

Y. Du, J. M. Links, L. Becker, A. F. Dipaula, T. Frank, K. H. Schuleri, A. C. Lardo, E. C. Frey

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Simultaneous 201Tl/99mTc-sestamibi dual-isotope myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging can reduce imaging time and produce perfectly registered rest/stress images. However, crosstalk from 99mTc into 201Tl images can significantly reduce 201Tl image quality. We have developed a model-based compensation (MBC) method to compensate for this crosstalk. The method has previously been validated with phantom and simulation studies. In this study, we evaluated the MBC method using a canine model. Methods: Left anterior descending or left circumflex coronary artery stenoses were created in 50 adult mongrel dogs weighing 20-30 kg. The dogs were injected with 111 MBq (3 mCi) of 201Tl at rest, and a SPECT study acquired. Stress was induced by administering adenosine to the dog, followed by injection of 740 MBq (20 mCi) of 99mTc-sestamibi at peak stress. A second SPECT study was performed with data acquired in both 201Tl and 99mTc energy windows to provide simultaneous dual-isotope projection data. The images were reconstructed using the ordered-subsets expectation-maximization reconstruction algorithm with compensation for attenuation, scatter, and detector response. For simultaneously acquired 201Tl data, we also applied the MBC method to compensate for crosstalk contamination from 99mTc. Results: Without compensation, 99mTc crosstalk increased the estimated 201Tl activity concentration in the rest images and reduced defect contrast. After MBC, the 201Tl images were in good agreement with the registered single-isotope images and ex vivo count data. The ischemic (IS) to non-ischemic (NIS) region 201Tl activity concentration ratios were computed for single-isotope and dual-isotope studies. The correlation with ex vivo IS-NIS ratios was 0.815 after MBC, compared to the 0.495 from data without compensation. In addition, the regression line for the IS-NIS ratios with MBC was almost parallel to the line of identity with a slope of 0.93, compared to a slope of 0.45 without compensation. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that model-based crosstalk compensation can provide substantial reduction of crosstalk effects in simultaneously acquired myocardial perfusion SPECT images in living biological systems.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)329-340
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Nuclear Cardiology
Volume21
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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