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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

Published in:

05-07-2022 | Original Article

Evaluation of pediatric malignancies using total-body PET/CT with half-dose [¹⁸F]-FDG

Authors: Wanqi Chen, Lei Liu, Yinghe Li, Shatong Li, Zhijian Li, Weiguang Zhang, Xu Zhang, Runze Wu, Debin Hu, Hongyan Sun, Yun Zhou, Wei Fan, Yumo Zhao, Yizhuo Zhang, Yingying Hu

Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging | Issue 12/2022

Abstract

Purpose

To explore the impact of a true half dose of [¹⁸F]-FDG on image quality in pediatric oncological patients undergoing total-body PET/CT and investigate short acquisition times with half-dose injected activity.

Methods

One hundred pediatric oncological patients who underwent total-body PET/CT using the uEXPLORER scanner after receiving a true half dose of [¹⁸F]-FDG (1.85 MBq/kg) were retrospectively enrolled. The PET images were first reconstructed using complete 600-s data and then split into 300-s, 180-s, 60-s, 40-s, and 20-s duration groups (G600 to G20). The subjective analysis was performed using 5-point Likert scales. Objective quantitative metrics included the maximum standard uptake value (SUV_max), SUV_mean, standard deviation (SD), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and SNR_norm of the background. The variabilities in lesion SUV_mean, SUV_max, and tumor-to-background ratio (TBR) were also calculated.

Results

The overall image quality scores in the G600, G300, G180, and G60 groups were 4.9 ± 0.2, 4.9 ± 0.3, 4.4 ± 0.5, and 3.5 ± 0.5 points, respectively. All the lesions identified in the half-dose images were localized in the G60 images, while 56% of the lesions could be clearly identified in the G20 images. With reduced acquisition time, the SUV_max and SD of the backgrounds were gradually increased, while the TBR values showed no statistically significant differences among the groups (all p > 0.1). Using the half-dose images as a reference, the variability in the lesion SUV_max gradually increased from the G180 to G20 images, while the lesion SUV_mean remained stable across all age groups. SNR_norm was highly negatively correlated with age.

Conclusion

Total-body PET/CT with a half dose of [¹⁸F]-FDG (1.85 MBq/kg, estimated whole-body effective dose: 1.76–2.57 mSv) achieved good performance in pediatric patients, with sufficient image quality and good lesion conspicuity. Sufficient image quality and lesion conspicuity could be maintained at a fast scanning time of 60 s with half-dose activity.

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Title: Evaluation of pediatric malignancies using total-body PET/CT with half-dose [18F]-FDG
Authors: Wanqi Chen
Lei Liu
Yinghe Li
Shatong Li
Zhijian Li
Weiguang Zhang
Xu Zhang
Runze Wu
Debin Hu
Hongyan Sun
Yun Zhou
Wei Fan
Yumo Zhao
Yizhuo Zhang
Yingying Hu
Publication date: 05-07-2022
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging / Issue 12/2022
Print ISSN: 1619-7070
Electronic ISSN: 1619-7089
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-022-05893-8

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Evaluation of pediatric malignancies using total-body PET/CT with half-dose [¹⁸F]-FDG

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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