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Attenuation correction of myocardial SPECT by scatter-photopeak window method in normal subjects

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Abstract

Objective

Segmentation with scatter and photopeak window data using attenuation correction (SSPAC) method can provide a patient-specific non-uniform attenuation coefficient map only by using photopeak and scatter images without X-ray computed tomography (CT). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the performance of attenuation correction (AC) by the SSPAC method on normal myocardial perfusion database.

Methods

A total of 32 sets of exercise–rest myocardial images with Tc-99 m-sestamibi were acquired in both photopeak (140 keV ± 10%) and scatter (7% of lower side of the photopeak window) energy windows. Myocardial perfusion databases by the SSPAC method and non-AC (NC) were created from 15 female and 17 male subjects with low likelihood of cardiac disease using quantitative perfusion SPECT software. Segmental myocardial counts of a 17-segment model from these databases were compared on the basis of paired t test.

Results

AC average myocardial perfusion count was significantly higher than that in NC in the septal and inferior regions (P < 0.02). On the contrary, AC average count was significantly lower in the anterolateral and apical regions (P < 0.01). Coefficient variation of the AC count in the mid, apical and apex regions was lower than that of NC.

Conclusions

The SSPAC method can improve average myocardial perfusion uptake in the septal and inferior regions and provide uniform distribution of myocardial perfusion. The SSPAC method could be a practical method of attenuation correction without X-ray CT.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported partly by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research in Japan (No.19591403).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, Japan

    Koichi Okuda, Kenichi Nakajima, Shinro Matsuo & Seigo Kinuya

  2. Toshiba Medical Systems Co., Ltd, Tochigi, Japan

    Nobutoku Motomura & Masahiro Kubota

  3. Fujita Health University of Health Sciences, Toyoake, Japan

    Noriyasu Yamaki & Hisato Maeda

  4. Department of Biotracer Medicine, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan

    Koichi Okuda

Authors
  1. Koichi Okuda
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  2. Kenichi Nakajima
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  3. Nobutoku Motomura
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  4. Masahiro Kubota
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  5. Noriyasu Yamaki
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  6. Hisato Maeda
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  7. Shinro Matsuo
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  8. Seigo Kinuya
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Correspondence to Koichi Okuda.

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Okuda, K., Nakajima, K., Motomura, N. et al. Attenuation correction of myocardial SPECT by scatter-photopeak window method in normal subjects. Ann Nucl Med 23, 501–506 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12149-009-0258-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12149-009-0258-0

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