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Correlation of early-phase 18F-florbetapir (AV-45/Amyvid) PET images to FDG images: preliminary studies

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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

18F-Florbetapir (AV-45/Amyvid) is a novel positron emission tomography (PET) tracer for imaging plaque pathology in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), while PET images of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) for cerebral glucose metabolism can provide complementary information to amyloid plaque images for diagnosis of AD. The goal of this preliminary study was to investigate the perfusion-like property of relative cerebral blood flow estimates (R1) and summed early-phase AV-45 images [perfusion AV-45 (pAV-45)] and optimize the early time frame for pAV-45.

Methods

Dynamic AV-45 PET scans (0–180 min) were performed in seven subjects. pAV-45, late-phase AV-45, and FDG images were spatially normalized to the Montreal Neurological Institute template aided by individual MRI images, and the corresponding standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) was computed. The R1 images were derived from a simplified reference tissue model. Correlations between regional and voxelwise R1 and the corresponding FDG images were calculated. An optimization of time frames of pAV-45 was conducted in terms of correlation to FDG images. The optimal early time frame was validated in a separate cohort.

Results

The regional distribution in the R1 images correlated well (R = 0.91) to that of the FDG within subjects. Consistently high correlation was noted across a long range of time frames. The maximal correlation of pAV-45 to FDG SUVR of R = 0.95 was observed at the time frame of 1–6 min, while the peak correlation of R = 0.99 happened at 0–2 min between pAV-45 and R1. A similar result was achieved in the validation cohort.

Conclusion

Preliminary results showed that the distribution patterns of R1 and pAV-45 images are highly correlated with normalized FDG images, and the initial 5-min early time frame of 1–6 min is potentially useful in providing complementary FDG-like information to the amyloid plaque density by late-phase AV-45 images.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Avid Radiopharmaceuticals Inc. (Philadelphia, PA, USA) for providing the precursor for the preparation of AV-45. This study was carried out with financial support from the National Science Council, Taiwan (Grant NSC-98-2314-B-182-034-MY2, NSC 100-2314-B-182-038 and 99-2314-B-182A-067-MY2), and grants from Research Fund of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CMRPD1A0311).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Ing-Tsung Hsiao, Chia-Ju Hsieh, Shiaw-Pyng Wey, Tzu-Chen Yen, Mei-Ping Kung & Kun-Ju Lin

  2. Healthy Aging Research Center and Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, Chang Gung University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Ing-Tsung Hsiao, Chia-Ju Hsieh, Shiaw-Pyng Wey, Mei-Ping Kung & Kun-Ju Lin

  3. Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Chin-Chang Huang & Wen-Chun Hsu

  4. Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Mei-Ping Kung

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  1. Ing-Tsung Hsiao
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Correspondence to Mei-Ping Kung or Kun-Ju Lin.

Additional information

Ing-Tsung Hsiao and Chin-Chang Huang contributed equally to this work.

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Hsiao, IT., Huang, CC., Hsieh, CJ. et al. Correlation of early-phase 18F-florbetapir (AV-45/Amyvid) PET images to FDG images: preliminary studies. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 39, 613–620 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-011-2051-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-011-2051-2

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