Spatial Standardization of Spect Brain Images With Perfusion Radiopharmaceuticals

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20535/ibb.2020.4.2.195546

Keywords:

SPECT, Brain, Symmetry, Image standardization, 99mTc-HMPAO

Abstract

Background. In the study of 3D images of the brain according to emission computed tomography (SPECT) there is a problem of their spatial orientation for the correct construction of sections and subsequent analysis of the symmetry of effective hemisphere perfusion. The brain on the original images can take virtually any orientation, resulting in asymmetry of distribution of radiopharmaceutical agents (RPA) on sections of parallel or perpendicular coordinate axes. In turn, this can lead to incorrect interpretation of clinical data.

Objective. The purpose of the paper is development of a methodology and appropriate software module for the automated standardization of spatial orientation of the SPECT of the brain images, in particular, with 99mTc-hexamethylpropylene (99mTc-HMPAO) perfusion RPA.

Methods. 30 SPECT images of patients with different levels of brain perfusion were analyzed. Brain scintigraphic studies were performed with 99mTc- HMPAO on a gamma camera "E. Cam"(Siemens) with LEHR collimator. SPECT was performed in 15–20 min after intravenous administration of RPA. The tomographic study included the collection of 128 projections for the 128×128 matrix, the RPA activity for intravenous administration was 740 MBq. The developed method of automated standardization of spatial orientation SPECT image of the brain was implemented in the software "ScintyBrain" in Matlab 2018.

Results. The developed technique, based on finding the plane of symmetry of the hemispheres of the brain, allows determining the spatial orientation of the brain with an average error of 0.8–4°. The error in determining the angle of rotation of the sagittal sections increases with decreased perfusion of the frontal segments, and the frontal sections – depends on the presence of large-focal changes in the temporal and parietal divisions of the hemisphere.

Conclusions. A method of automated spatial standardization of SPECT images of the brain was developed. The average error of the spatial angles of rotation of 3D images is in the range of 0.8–4°. The average computer analysis of the brain's spatial orientation takes up to 40 sec. The implementation of the presented method minimizes the subjective influence of specialists on the results of processing and analysis of scintigraphic images. In addition, the automated SPECT standardization procedure can significantly reduce the time of subsequent blending of SPECT brain images with other modalities.

References

Kovalev VA, Thurfjell L, Lundqvist R, Pagani M. Asymmetry of SPECT Perfusion Image Patterns as a Diagnostic Feature for Alzheimer’s Disease. In: Medical Image Computing and Computer-Assisted Intervention – MICCAI 2006, vol. 4191. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg; 2006, pp. 421-8. DOI: 10.1007/11866763_52

Umemura A, Suzuka T, Yamada K. Quantitative measurement of cerebral blood flow by 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT in acute ischaemic stroke: usefulness in determining therapeutic options. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 2000;69(4):472-8. DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.69.4.472

Brinkmann BH, Jones DT, Stead M, Kazemi N, O'Brien TJ, So EL, et al. Statistical Parametric Mapping Demonstrates Asymmetric Uptake with Tc-99m ECD and Tc-99m HMPAO SPECT in Normal Brain. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism. 2011;32(1):190-8. DOI: 10.1038/jcbfm.2011.123

Waldemar G, Hasselbalch SG, Andersen AR, Delecluse F, Petersen P, Johnsen A, Paulson OB. 99mTc-d,l-HMPAO and SPECT of the Brain in Normal Aging. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism. 1991;11(3):508-21. DOI: 10.1038/jcbfm.1991.95

Koyama M, Kawashima R, Ito H, Ono S, Sato K, Goto R, et al. SPECT imaging of normal subjects with technetium-99m-HMPAO and technetium-99m-ECD. Journal of Nuclear Medicine. 1997;38(4):587-92.

Liu SX. Symmetry and asymmetry analysis and its implications to computer-aided diagnosis: A review of the literature. Journal of Biomedical Informatics. 2009;42(6):1056-64. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbi.2009.07.003

Van Laere K, Koole M, D'Asseler Y, Versijpt J, Audenaert K, Dumont F, Dierckx R. Automated stereotactic standardization of brain SPECT receptor data using single-photon transmission images. Journal of Nuclear Medicine. 2001;42(2):361-75.

Mitra NJ, Pauly M, Wand M, Ceylan D. Symmetry in 3D Geometry: Extraction and Applications. Computer Graphics Forum. 2013;32(6):1-23. DOI: 10.1111/cgf.12010

Thrun S, Wegbreit B. Shape from symmetry. In: Tenth IEEE International Conference on Computer Vision (ICCV'05), vol. 2, Beijing, China; 2005, pp. 1824-31. DOI: 10.1109/ICCV.2005.221

Nikolov NA, Makeev SS, Novikova TG, Chebotariova LL, Globa MV, Unevich OA, et al. Determination of absolute cerebral blood flow scintigraphy with lipophilic radiopharmaceutical. Medical Physics. 2018;79(3):36-45.

Van Laere KJ, Warwick J, Versijpt J, Goethals I, Audenaert K, Van Heerden B, Dierckx R. Analysis of Clinical Brain SPECT Data Based on Anatomic Standardization and Reference to Normal Data: An ROC-Based Comparison of Visual, Semiquantitative, and Voxel-Based Methods. Journal of Nuclear Medicine. 2002;43(4):458-69.

Published

2020-04-15

How to Cite

1.
Nikolov N, Makeev S, Novikova T, Tsikalo V. Spatial Standardization of Spect Brain Images With Perfusion Radiopharmaceuticals. Innov Biosyst Bioeng [Internet]. 2020Apr.15 [cited 2025Jul.30];4(2):67-74. Available from: https://ibb.kpi.ua/article/view/195546

Issue

Section

Articles