• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.34-38
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• 2011

Purpose: The SUV is a widely used semi-quantitative index in PET for the estimation of radio-tracer accumulation in VOI. In this study, SUVs from three different PET/CT scanners were assessed, and differences between SUVs were evaluated. Materials and Methods: The PET/CT scanners which were assessed in this study were GEMINI, GEMINI TF 64 (Philips) and Biograph True Point True V 40 (Siemens). The NEMA PET phantom (Data Spectrum Corp., USA) was used to evaluate SUVs. The NEMA PET phantom has6.8 kg weight and three hot inserts. Two different activity distributions for the background and inserts were tested. The activity ratio were 3.7:3.7:7.4:11.1 MBq (1:1:2:3) and 1.85:7.4:9.25:11.1MBq (1:4:5:6) for each of background, insert 1, insert 2 and insert 3. Acquisition time was 2 minutes per bed position and NEMA PET phantom could be covered by two bed positions for all PET/CT scanners. The SUVs from each PET/CT scanner were compared with calculated true value. Results: For both activity ratios, all scanners showed similar results. The differences between each scanner were insignificant. Each scanner showed 91.2%, 85.9% and 87.2% of true SUV for GEMINI, GEMINI TF 64, Biograph True Point TrueV, respectively. Conclusion: For all scanners, SUVs were slightly lower than true value. However, the difference between scanners was insignificant. The SUVs from these scanners would be clinically meaningful if their consistent underestimation is kept in mind.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.110-116
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• 2010

Purpose: The X-ray attenuation coefficient based on CT images is used for attenuation correction in PET/CT. The polychromatic X-ray beam can introduce beam-hardening artifact on CT images. The aims of the study were to evaluate the effect of dental metal prostheses in phantom and patients on apparent tracer activity measured with PET/CT when using CT attenuation correction. Materials and Methods: 40 normal patients (mean age $54{\pm}12$) was scanned between Jan and Feb 2010. NEMA(National Electrical Manufactures Association) PET $Phantom^{TM}$ (NU2-1994) was filled with $^{18}F$-FDG injected into the water that insert implant and metal prostheses dental cast. Region of interest were drawn in non-artifact region, bright steak artifact region and dark streak artifact region on the same transaxial CT and PET slices. Patients and phantom with dental metal prostheses and dental implant were evaluated the change rate of CT Number and $SUV_{mean}$ in PET/CT. A paired t-test was performed to compare the ratio and the difference of the calculated values. Results: In patients with dental metal prostheses, $SUV_{mean}$ was reduced 19.64% (p<0.05) in the non-steak artifact region than the brightstreak artifact region whereas was increased 90.1% (p>0.05) in the non-steak artifact region than the dark streak artifact region. In phantom with dental metal prostheses, $SUV_{mean}$ was reduced 18.1% (p<0.05) in the non-steak artifact region than the bright streak artifact region whereas was increased 18.0% (p>0.05) in the non-steak artifact region than the dark streak artifact region. In patients with dental implant, $SUV_{mean}$ was increased 19.1% (p<0.05) in the non-steak artifact region than the bright streak artifact region whereas was increased 96.62% (p>0.05) in the non-steak artifact region than the dark streak artifact region. In phantom with dental implant, $SUV_{mean}$ was increased 14.4% (p<0.05) in the non-steak artifact region than the bright streak artifact region whereas was increased 7.0% (p>0.05) in the non-steak artifact region than the dark streak artifact region. Conclusion: When CT is used for attenuation correction in patients with dental metal prostheses, 19.1% reduced $SUV_{mean}$ is anticipated in the dark streak artifact region on CT images. The dark streak artifacts of CT by dental metal prostheses may cause false negative finding in PET/CT. We recommend that the non-attenuation corrected PET images also be evaluated for clinical use.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.421-426
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• 1997

We evaluated the in vivo kinetics, distribution, and pharmacology of N-(4-[$^{18}F$]fluoromethylbenzyl)spiperone ([$^{18}F$]FMBS), a newly developed derivative of spiperone, as a potentially more selective radiotracer for the dopamine (DA) $D_2$ receptors. Mice received 1.9-3.7 MBq (1.8-3.6 nmol/kg) of [$^{18}F$]FMBS by tail vein injection. The time course and regional distribution of the tracer in brain were assessed. Blocking studies were carried out by intravenously preinjecting DA $D_2$ receptor blockers (spiperone, butaclamol) as well as drugs with high affinity for DA $D_1$ (SCH 23390), DA transporter (GBR 12909), and serotonin $S_2$ ($5-HT_2$) (ketanserin) sites. After injection of the tracer, the radioactivity in striatum increased steadily over time, resulting in a striatal-to-cerebellar ratio of 4.8 at 120 min postinjection. By contrast, the radioactivity in cerebellum, frontal cortex, and remaining cortex washed out rapidly. Preinjection of unlabeled FMBS (1 mg/kg) and spiperone (1 mg/kg) reduced [$^{18}F$]FMBS striatal-to-cerebellar ratio by 41% and 80%, respectively. (+)-Butaclamol (1 mg/kg) blocked 80% of the striatal [$^{18}F$]FMBS binding, while (-)-butaclamol (1 mg/kg) did not. Preinjection of SCH 23390 (1 mg/kg) and GBR 12909 (5 mg/kg) had no significant effect on [$^{18}F$]FMBS binding. Ketanserin (1 mg/kg), a ligand for the $5-HT_2$ receptors, did not cause significant inhibition either in striatum, in frontal cortex, or the remaining cortex. The results demonstrate that [$^{18}F$]FMBS labels DA $D_2$ receptors selectively in vivo in the mouse brain. It may hold promise as a selective radiotracer for studying DA $D_2$ receptors in vivo by PET.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.30-41
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• 2007

Purpose: Bone metastasis in breast cancer patients are usually assessed by conventional Tc-99m methylene diphosphonate whole-body bone scan, which has a high sensitivity but a poor specificity. However, positron emission tomography with $^{18}F-2-deoxyglucose$ (FDG-PET) can offer superior spatial resolution and improved specificity. FDG-PET/CT can offer more information to assess bone metastasis than PET alone, by giving a anatomical information of non-enhanced CT image. We attempted to evaluate the usefulness of FDG-PET/CT for detecting bone metastasis in breast cancer and to compare FDG-PET/CT results with bone scan findings. Materials and Methods: The study group comprised 157 women patients (range: $28{\sim}78$ years old, $mean{\pm}SD=49.5{\pm}8.5$) with biopsy-proven breast cancer who underwent bone scan and FDG-PET/CT within 1 week interval. The final diagnosis of bone metastasis was established by histopathological findings, radiological correlation, or clinical follow-up. Bone scan was acquired over 4 hours after administration of 740 MBq Tc-99m MDP. Bone scan image was interpreted as normal, low, intermediate or high probability for osseous metastasis. FDG PET/CT was performed after 6 hours fasting. 370 MBq F-18 FDG was administered intravenously 1 hour before imaging. PET data was obtained by 3D mode and CT data, used as transmission correction database, was acquired during shallow respiration. PET images were evaluated by visual interpretation, and quantification of FDG accumulation in bone lesion was performed by maximal SUV(SUVmax) and relative SUV(SUVrel). Results: Six patients(4.4%) showed metastatic bone lesions. Four(66.6%) of 6 patients with osseous metastasis was detected by bone scan and all 6 patients(100%) were detected by PET/CT. A total of 135 bone lesions found on either FDG-PET or bone scan were consist of 108 osseous metastatic lesion and 27 benign bone lesions. Osseous metastatic lesion had higher SUVmax and SUVrel compared to benign bone lesion($4.79{\pm}3.32$ vs $1.45{\pm}0.44$, p=0.000, $3.08{\pm}2.85$ vs $0.30{\pm}0.43$, p=0.000). Among 108 osseous metastatic lesions, 76 lesions showed as abnormal uptake on bone scan, and 76 lesions also showed as increased FDG uptake on PET/CT scan. There was good agreement between FDG uptake and abnormal bone scan finding (Kendall tau-b : 0.689, p=0.000). Lesion showed increased bone tracer uptake had higher SUVmax and SUVrel compared to lesion showed no abnormal bone scan finding ($6.03{\pm}3.12$ vs $1.09{\pm}1.49$, p=0.000, $4.76{\pm}3.31$ vs $1.29{\pm}0.92$, p=0.000). The order of frequency of osseous metastatic site was vertebra, pelvis, rib, skull, sternum, scapula, femur, clavicle, and humerus. Metastatic lesion on skull had highest SUVmax and metastatic lesion on rib had highest SUVrel. Osteosclerotic metastatic lesion had lowest SUVmax and SUVrel. Conclusion: These results suggest that FDG-PET/CT is more sensitive to detect breast cancer patients with osseous metastasis. CT scan must be reviewed cautiously skeleton with bone window, because osteosclerotic metastatic lesion did not showed abnormal FDG accumulation frequently.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.288-300
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• 2003

Purpose: To obtain regional blood flow and tissue-blood partition coefficient with time-activity curves from ${H_2}^{15}O$ PET, fitting of some parameters in the Kety model is conventionally accomplished by nonlinear least squares (NLS) analysis. However, NLS requires considerable compuation time then is impractical for pixel-by-pixel analysis to generate parametric images of these parameters. In this study, we investigated several fast parameter estimation methods for the parametric image generation and compared their statistical reliability and computational efficiency. Materials and Methods: These methods included linear least squres (LLS), linear weighted least squares (LWLS), linear generalized least squares (GLS), linear generalized weighted least squares (GWLS), weighted Integration (WI), and model-based clustering method (CAKS). ${H_2}^{15}O$ dynamic brain PET with Poisson noise component was simulated using numerical Zubal brain phantom. Error and bias in the estimation of rCBF and partition coefficient, and computation time in various noise environments was estimated and compared. In audition, parametric images from ${H_2}^{15}O$ dynamic brain PET data peformed on 16 healthy volunteers under various physiological conditions was compared to examine the utility of these methods for real human data. Results: These fast algorithms produced parametric images with similar image qualify and statistical reliability. When CAKS and LLS methods were used combinedly, computation time was significantly reduced and less than 30 seconds for $128{\times}128{\times}46$ images on Pentium III processor. Conclusion: Parametric images of rCBF and partition coefficient with good statistical properties can be generated with short computation time which is acceptable in clinical situation.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.108-112
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• 2016

Molecular imaging with the radiolabeled RGD peptides for ${\alpha}_v{\beta}_3$ integrin has been an increasing interest for tumor diagnosis and the treatment monitoring. Recently, $^{64}Cu$-NODAGA-gluco-E[c(RGDfK)]$_2$ was developed for quantification of ${\alpha}_v{\beta}_3$ integrin and its biological properties was elucidated. To better understand the molecular process in vivo, we performed the kinetic analysis for the $^{64}Cu$-NODAGA-gluco-E[c(RGDfK)]$_2$. After preparation of a radiotracer, dynamic PET images were obtained in the U87MG xenograft mice for 60 min (n = 6). Binding potential values were estimated from the 3-tissue compartment model, reference Logan and simplified reference tissue model. In the early time frame (0-20 min), the liver, kidney, intestine, urinary bladder and tumor were visualized but these uptakes were diminished as time went by. The tumors showed a good contrast at 40 min after administration. $^{64}Cu$-NODAGA-gluco-E[c(RGDfK)]$_2$ showed the 2-fold uptake in the tumor compared with that in the muscle. The parametric maps for binding values also provide the higher tumor-to-background contrast than the static images. A binding value obtained from the 3-tissue compartment model was comparable to other modeling methods. From these results, we conclude that $^{64}Cu$-NODAGA-gluco-E[c(RGDfK)]$_2$ may be a promising PET radiotracer for the evaluation of angiogenesis.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.275-284
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• 2008

Purpose: We intended to evaluate myocardial oxygen consumption ($MVO_2)$ by applying recirculation correction and modified one-compartment model to have a reference range of $MVO_2$ in normal young population and to reveal the effect of recirculation on time-activity curve (TAC). Materials and Methods: In nine normal male volunteers with mean age of $26.3{\pm}4.0$, $MVO_2$ was estimated with 925 MBq (25mCi) of $^{11}C$-Acetate (Neuroscience Research Institute, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, Korea) and PET/CT (Biograph 6, Siemens Medical Solution, Germany). Analysis software such as $MATLAB^{(R)}$ v7.1 (Mathworks, Inc., United States), $Excel^{(R)}$ 2007 (Microsoft, United States), and $SPSS^{(R)}$ v12.0 (Apache Software Foundation, United States) were used. Twenty three frames were of $12{\times}10$, $5{\times}60$, $3{\times}120$, $2{\times}300's$ duration, respectively. The modified one-compartmental model and the recirculation correction method were applied. Statistical analysis was performed by using Test of Normality, ANOVA and Post-Hoc (Scheffe's) analysis, and p-value less than 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: The normal reference ranges of $MVO_2$ were presented as $3.18-4.64\;{\times}\;10^{-4}\;ml/g/sec$, $1.91-3.94\;{\times}\;10^{-4}\;ml/g/sec$, $4.31-6.40\;{\times}\;10^{-4}\;ml/g/sec$, $2.84-4.53\;{\times}\;10^{-4}\;ml/g/sec$ and $3.42-5.00\;{\times}\;10^{-4}\;ml/g/sec$ in the septum, the inferior wall, the lateral wall, the anterior wall and the entire wall, respectively. In addition, it was noted that the dual exponentiality of the clearance curve is due to the recirculation effect and that the characteristic of the curve is essentially mono-exponential. Conclusion: $^{11}C$-Acetate is a radiotracer worthwhile to assess $MVO_2$. Re-circulated $^{11}C$ can influence TAC of $^{11}C$ in myocadia and so the recirculation correction must be considered when measuring $MVO_2$.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2010

Purpose: In Asan Medical Center we perform myocardial perfusion SPECT to evaluate cardiac event risk level for non-cardiac surgery patients. In case of patients with cancer, we check tumor metastasis using whole body bone scan and whole body PET scan and then perform myocardial perfusion SPECT to reduce unnecessary exam. In case of short term in patients, we perform $^{201}Tl$ myocardial perfusion SPECT after whole body bone scan a minimum 16 hours in order to reduce hospitalization period but it is still the actual condition in which the evaluation about the affect of the crosstalk contamination due to the each other dissimilar isotope administration doesn't properly realize. So in our experiments, we try to evaluate crosstalk contamination influence on $^{201}Tl$ myocardial perfusion SPECT using anthropomorphic torso phantom and patient's data. Materials and Methods: From 2009 August to September, we analyzed 87 patients with $^{201}Tl$ myocardial perfusion SPECT. According to $^{201}Tl$ myocardial perfusion SPECT yesterday whole body bone scan possibility of carrying out, a patient was classified. The image data are obtained by using the dual energy window in $^{201}Tl$ myocardial perfusion SPECT. We analyzed $^{201}Tl$ and $^{99m}Tc$ counts ratio in each patients groups obtained image data. We utilized anthropomorphic torso phantom in our experiment and administrated $^{201}Tl$ 14.8 MBq (0.4 mCi) at myocardium and $^{99m}Tc$ 44.4 MBq (1.2 mCi) at extracardiac region. We obtained image by $^{201}Tl$ myocardial perfusion SPECT without gate method application and analyzed spatial resolution using Xeleris ver 2.0551. Results: In case of $^{201}Tl$ window and the counts rate comparison result yesterday whole body bone scan of being counted in $^{99m}Tc$ window, the difference in which a rate to 24 hours exponential-functionally notes in 1:0.114 with Ventri (GE Healthcare, Wisconsin, USA), 1:0.249 after the bone tracer injection in 12 hours in 1:0.411 with 1:0.79 with Infinia (GE healthcare, Wisconsin, USA) according to a reduction a time-out was shown (Ventri p=0.001, Infinia p=0.001). Moreover, the rate of the case in which it doesn't perform the whole body bone scan showed up as the average 1:$0.067{\pm}0.6$ of Ventri, and 1:$0.063{\pm}0.7$ of Infinia. According to the phantom after experiment spatial resolution measurement result, and an addition or no and time-out of $^{99m}Tc$ administrated, it doesn't note any change of FWHM (p=0.134). Conclusion: Through the experiments using anthropomorphic torso phantom and patients data, we found that $^{201}Tl$ myocardium perfusion SPECT image later carried out after the bone tracer injection with 16 hours this confirmed that it doesn't receive notable influence in spatial resolution by $^{99m}Tc$. But this investigation is only aimed to image quality, so it needs more investigation in patient's radiation dose and exam accuracy and precision. The exact guideline presentation about the exam interval should be made of the validation test which is exact and in which it is standardized about the affect of the crosstalk contamination according to the isotope use in which it is different later on.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.7
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• pp.804-810
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• 2009

Purpose : We investigated whether ictal single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with prolonged injection of technetium-99m (99mTc) ethyl cysteinate dimer during repeated spasms can localize the epileptogenic foci in children with infantile spasms. Methods : Fourteen children with infantile spasms (11 boys, 3 girls; mean age, $2.2{\pm}1.3$ years) were examined. When a cluster of spasms was detected during video electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring, $^{99m}Tc$ ethyl cysteinate dimer was slowly and continuously injected for 2 minutes to determine the presence of ictal SPECT. For 7 children, the ictal and interictal SPECT images were visually analyzed, while for the remaining 7 children, the SPECT images were analyzed using the subtraction ictal SPECT coregistered to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (SISCOM) technique. Subsequently, we analyzed the association between the ictal SPECT findings and those of other diagnostic modalities such as EEG, MRI, and positron emission tomography (PET). Results : Increase in cerebral blood flow on ictal SPECT involved the epileptogenic foci in 10 cases6 cases analyzed by visual assessment and 4 analyzed by the SISCOM technique. The ictal SPECT and video-EEG findings showed moderate agreement (Kappa=0.57; 95% confidence interval, 0.18-0.96). Conclusion : Ictal SPECT with prolonged injection of a tracer could provide supplementary information to localize the epileptogenic foci in infantile spasms.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2011

Purpose: Bone metastasis from stomach cancer occurs only rarely and it is known to have a very poor prognosis. This study examined the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients who were diagnosed with stomach cancer and bone metastasis. Materials and Methods: The subjects were 19 patients who were diagnosed with stomach cancer at Hanyang University Medical Center from June 1992 to August 2010 and they also had bone metastasis. The survival rate according to many clinicopathologic factors was retrospectively analyzed. Results: 11 patients out of 18 patients (61%) who received an operation were in stage IV and the most common bone metastasis location was the spine. Bone scintigraphy was mostly used for diagnosing bone metastasis and PET-CT and magnetic resonance imaging were used singly or together. The serum alkaline phosphatase at the time of diagnosis had increased in 12 cases and there were clinical symptoms (bone pain) in 16 cases. Treatment was given to 14 cases and it was mostly radiotherapy. There were 2 cases of discovering bone metastasis at the time of diagnosing stomach cancer. The interval after operation to the time of diagnosing bone metastasis for the 18 cases that received a stomach cancer operation was on average $14.9{\pm}17.3$ months and the period until death after the diagnosis of bone metastasis was on average $3.8{\pm}2.6$ months. As a result of univariate survival rate analysis, the group that was treated for bone metastasis had a significantly better survival period when the bone metastasis was singular rather than multiple, as compared to the non-treatment group, yet both factors were not independent prognosis factors on multivariate survival analysis. Conclusions: An examination to confirm the status of bone metastasis when conducting a radio-tracer test after the initial diagnosis and also after an operation is needed for stomach cancer patients, and bone scintigraphy is the most helpfully modality. Making the diagnosis at the early stage and suitable treatments are expected to enhance the survival rate and improve the quality of life even for the patients with bone metastasis.