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Feasibility study of a PET-only amyloid quantification method: a comparison with visual interpretation

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Abstract

Objective

Visual evaluation is the standard for amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) examination, though the result depends upon the physician’s subjective review of the images. Therefore, it is expected that objective quantitative evaluation is useful for image interpretation. In this study, we examined the usefulness of the quantitative evaluation of amyloid PET using a PET-only quantification method in comparison with visual evaluation.

Methods

In this study we retrospectively investigated a total of 166 individuals, including 58 cognitively normal controls, 62 individuals with mild cognitive impairment, and 46 individuals with early Alzheimer’s disease. They underwent 11C-Pittsburgh compound-B (PiB) PET examination through the Japanese Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (J-ADNI). Amyloid accumulation in cerebral cortices was assessed using visual and quantitative methods. The quantitative evaluation was performed using the adaptive template method and empirically PiB-prone region of interest, and the standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) in each area was obtained.

Results

Visual evaluation and SUVR were significantly correlated in the cerebral cortices (ρ = 0.85–0.87; p < 0.05). In visual evaluation, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 78%, 76%, and 77%, respectively. Meanwhile, for quantitative evaluation, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 77%, 79%, and 78% in mean cortical SUVR (mcSUVR) and 79%, 79%, and 79% in maximum SUVR (maxSUVR), respectively.

Conclusion

The PET-only quantification method provided a concordant result with visual evaluation and was considered useful for amyloid PET.

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Acknowledgements

J-ADNI was supported by the following grants: Translational Research Promotion Project from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization of Japan; Research on Dementia, Health Labor Sciences Research Grant; Life Science Database Integration Project of Japan Science and Technology Agency; Research Association of Biotechnology (contributed by Astellas Pharma Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eisai, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck-Banyu, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Pfizer Inc., Shionogi & Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Dainippon, and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company), Japan, and a grant from an anonymous foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Medical Quantum Science, Department of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan

    Natsumi Shimokawa & Masayuki Sasaki

  2. National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS), National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan

    Go Akamatsu

  3. Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan

    Miyako Kadosaki

  4. Department of Radiological Technology, Kyushu Central Hospital, 3-23-1 Shiobaru, Minami-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8588, Japan

    Miyako Kadosaki

Authors
  1. Natsumi Shimokawa
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  2. Go Akamatsu
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  4. Masayuki Sasaki
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Correspondence to Masayuki Sasaki.

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Data used in preparation of this article were obtained from the Japanese Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (J-ADNI) database deposited in the National Bioscience Database Center Human Database, Japan (Research ID: hum0043.v1, 2016). As such, the investigators within J-ADNI contributed to the design and implementation of J-ADNI and/or provided data but did not participate in analysis or writing of this report. A complete listing of J-ADNI investigators can be found at: https://humandbs.biosciencedbc.jp/en/hum0043-j-adni-authors.

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Shimokawa, N., Akamatsu, G., Kadosaki, M. et al. Feasibility study of a PET-only amyloid quantification method: a comparison with visual interpretation. Ann Nucl Med 34, 629–635 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12149-020-01486-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12149-020-01486-3

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