I]FP-CIT SPECT images

Aim The purpose of the current paper is to present a computational solution to accurately quantify a specific to a non-specific uptake ratio in [ 123 I]FP-CIT single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images and simultaneously measure the spatial dimensions of the basal ganglia, commonly known as basal nuclei. A statistical analysis based on a reference dataset selected by the user is also automatically performed. Methods The quantification of the specific to non-specific uptake ratio here is based on regions of interest defined after the registration of the image under study with a template image. The computational solution was tested on a dataset of 38 [ 123 I]FP-CIT SPECT images: 28 images were from patients with Parkinson’s disease and the remainder from normal patients, and the automated quantification was compared with three widely known semi-automated quantification methods. Results The results have revealed a high correlation coefficient between the automated method developed and three widely known semi-automated methods used for comparison (r ≥ 0.975). The solution also showed an excellent robustness against different positions of the patient, as an almost perfect agreement between the specific to non-specific uptake ratio was found (ICC = 1.000). The mean processing time was around 6 seconds per study using a common pc notebook.