Conclusions

Abstract

A temporal Fourier transform (TFT) applied on a time series of scintigraphic images concentrates on the change in information contained in each picture element as a function of time. Basically it is a mathematical device that performs data extraction through data reduction of the activity/time relations present in the original data. An algorithm for the calculation on a pixel by pixel basis of the first harmonic amplitude and phase is easily implemented in a dedicated mini-computer for nuclear medicine. Both amplitude and phase are displayed as parametric functional images. In order to obtain a standard presentation of the results we developed a cyclic color scale, an essential requirement for the unequivocal display of the phase image. It then appears that, within the restrictions of the first harmonic as a temporal model for the process under study, a TFT allows a higher phase resolution than the actual sampling frequency of the original data.