Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine 1/2016

01-02-2016 | Research Article

Investigating the state-of-the-art in whole-body MR-based attenuation correction: an intra-individual, inter-system, inventory study on three clinical PET/MR systems

Authors: Thomas Beyer, Martin L. Lassen, Ronald Boellaard, Gaspar Delso, Maqsood Yaqub, Bernhard Sattler, Harald H. Quick

Published in: Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine | Issue 1/2016

Login to get access

Abstract

Objective

We assess inter- and intra-subject variability of magnetic resonance (MR)-based attenuation maps (MRμMaps) of human subjects for state-of-the-art positron emission tomography (PET)/MR imaging systems.

Materials and methods

Four healthy male subjects underwent repeated MR imaging with a Siemens Biograph mMR, Philips Ingenuity TF and GE SIGNA PET/MR system using product-specific MR sequences and image processing algorithms for generating MRμMaps. Total lung volumes and mean attenuation values in nine thoracic reference regions were calculated. Linear regression was used for comparing lung volumes on MRμMaps. Intra- and inter-system variability was investigated using a mixed effects model.

Results

Intra-system variability was seen for the lung volume of some subjects, (p = 0.29). Mean attenuation values across subjects were significantly different (p < 0.001) due to different segmentations of the trachea. Differences in the attenuation values caused noticeable intra-individual and inter-system differences that translated into a subsequent bias of the corrected PET activity values, as verified by independent simulations.

Conclusion

Significant differences of MRμMaps generated for the same subjects but different PET/MR systems resulted in differences in attenuation correction factors, particularly in the thorax. These differences currently limit the quantitative use of PET/MR in multi-center imaging studies.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Schmand M, Burbar Z, Corbeil JL et al (2007) BrainPET: first human tomograph for simultaneous (functional) PET and MR imaging. J Nucl Med 48:45 Schmand M, Burbar Z, Corbeil JL et al (2007) BrainPET: first human tomograph for simultaneous (functional) PET and MR imaging. J Nucl Med 48:45
2.
go back to reference Delso G, Fürst S, Jakoby B et al (2011) Performance measurements of the Siemens mMR integrated whole-body PET/MR scanner. J Nucl Med 52:1914–1922CrossRefPubMed Delso G, Fürst S, Jakoby B et al (2011) Performance measurements of the Siemens mMR integrated whole-body PET/MR scanner. J Nucl Med 52:1914–1922CrossRefPubMed
3.
4.
go back to reference Bailey DL, Barthel H, Beyer T et al (2013) Summary report of the First International Workshop on PET/MR imaging, March 19–23, 2012, Tübingen, Germany. Mol Imaging Biol 15:361–371PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed Bailey DL, Barthel H, Beyer T et al (2013) Summary report of the First International Workshop on PET/MR imaging, March 19–23, 2012, Tübingen, Germany. Mol Imaging Biol 15:361–371PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
5.
go back to reference Bezrukov I, Mantlik F, Schmidt H et al (2013) MR-Based PET attenuation correction for PET/MR imaging. Semin Nucl Med 43:45–59CrossRefPubMed Bezrukov I, Mantlik F, Schmidt H et al (2013) MR-Based PET attenuation correction for PET/MR imaging. Semin Nucl Med 43:45–59CrossRefPubMed
6.
go back to reference Bailey DL, Barthel H, Beuthien-Baumann B et al (2014) Combined PET/MR: Where are we now? Summary report of the second international workshop on PET/MR imaging April 8–12, 2013, Tubingen, Germany. Mol Imaging Biol 16:295–310PubMed Bailey DL, Barthel H, Beuthien-Baumann B et al (2014) Combined PET/MR: Where are we now? Summary report of the second international workshop on PET/MR imaging April 8–12, 2013, Tubingen, Germany. Mol Imaging Biol 16:295–310PubMed
7.
go back to reference Keereman V, Fierens Y, Vanhove C et al (2012) Magnetic resonance-based attenuation correction for micro-single-photon emission computed tomography. Mol Imaging 12:155–165 Keereman V, Fierens Y, Vanhove C et al (2012) Magnetic resonance-based attenuation correction for micro-single-photon emission computed tomography. Mol Imaging 12:155–165
8.
go back to reference Samarin A, Burger C, Wollenweber SD et al (2012) PET/MR imaging of bone lesions: implications for PET quantification from imperfect attenuation correction. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 39:1154–1160CrossRefPubMed Samarin A, Burger C, Wollenweber SD et al (2012) PET/MR imaging of bone lesions: implications for PET quantification from imperfect attenuation correction. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 39:1154–1160CrossRefPubMed
9.
go back to reference Keller SH, Holm S, Hansen AE et al (2013) Image artifacts from MR-based attenuation correction in clinical, whole-body PET/MRI. Magn Reson Mater Phy 26:173–181CrossRef Keller SH, Holm S, Hansen AE et al (2013) Image artifacts from MR-based attenuation correction in clinical, whole-body PET/MRI. Magn Reson Mater Phy 26:173–181CrossRef
10.
go back to reference Aznar MC, Sersar R, Saabye J et al (2014) Whole-body PET/MRI: the effect of bone attenuation during MR-based attenuation correction in oncology imaging. Eur J Radiol 83:1177–1183CrossRefPubMed Aznar MC, Sersar R, Saabye J et al (2014) Whole-body PET/MRI: the effect of bone attenuation during MR-based attenuation correction in oncology imaging. Eur J Radiol 83:1177–1183CrossRefPubMed
11.
go back to reference National Electrical Manufacturers Association. NEMA Standards Publication NU 2-2007 (2007) Performance measurements of positron emission tomographs. Rosslyn, VA 26–33 National Electrical Manufacturers Association. NEMA Standards Publication NU 2-2007 (2007) Performance measurements of positron emission tomographs. Rosslyn, VA 26–33
12.
go back to reference EANM Physics Committee, Busemann Sokole E, Płachcínska A et al (2010) Routine quality control recommendations for nuclear medicine instrumentation. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 37:662–671CrossRef EANM Physics Committee, Busemann Sokole E, Płachcínska A et al (2010) Routine quality control recommendations for nuclear medicine instrumentation. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 37:662–671CrossRef
13.
go back to reference Boellaard R, O’Doherty MJ, Weber WA et al (2000) FDG PET and PET/CT: EANM procedure guidelines for tumour PET imaging: version 1.0. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 37:181–200CrossRef Boellaard R, O’Doherty MJ, Weber WA et al (2000) FDG PET and PET/CT: EANM procedure guidelines for tumour PET imaging: version 1.0. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 37:181–200CrossRef
14.
go back to reference Ziegler S, Braun H, Ritt P et al (2013) Systematic evaluation of phantom fluids for simultaneous PET/MR hybrid imaging. J Nucl Med 54:1464–1471CrossRefPubMed Ziegler S, Braun H, Ritt P et al (2013) Systematic evaluation of phantom fluids for simultaneous PET/MR hybrid imaging. J Nucl Med 54:1464–1471CrossRefPubMed
15.
go back to reference Deller T, Delso G, Grant A, et al (2014) PET NEMA Performance Measurements for a SiPM-Based Time-of-Flight PET/MR System” IEEE Medical Imaging Conference, Seattle #1618 Deller T, Delso G, Grant A, et al (2014) PET NEMA Performance Measurements for a SiPM-Based Time-of-Flight PET/MR System” IEEE Medical Imaging Conference, Seattle #1618
16.
go back to reference Martinez-Möller A, Souvatzoglou M, Delso G et al (2009) Tissue classification as a potential approach for attenuation correction in whole-body PET/MRI: evaluation with PET/CT data. J Nucl Med 50:520–526CrossRefPubMed Martinez-Möller A, Souvatzoglou M, Delso G et al (2009) Tissue classification as a potential approach for attenuation correction in whole-body PET/MRI: evaluation with PET/CT data. J Nucl Med 50:520–526CrossRefPubMed
17.
go back to reference Boellaard R, Hofman MBM, Hoekstra OS, Lammertsma AA (2014) Accurate PET/MR quantification using time of flight MLAA image reconstruction. Mol Imaging Biol 16(4):469–477CrossRefPubMed Boellaard R, Hofman MBM, Hoekstra OS, Lammertsma AA (2014) Accurate PET/MR quantification using time of flight MLAA image reconstruction. Mol Imaging Biol 16(4):469–477CrossRefPubMed
18.
go back to reference Ladefoged CN, Hansen AE, Keller SH (2014) Impact of incorrect tissue classification in Dixon-based MR-AC: fat-water tissue inversion. EJNMMI Phys 1(1):101PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed Ladefoged CN, Hansen AE, Keller SH (2014) Impact of incorrect tissue classification in Dixon-based MR-AC: fat-water tissue inversion. EJNMMI Phys 1(1):101PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
19.
go back to reference Schramm G, Langner J, Hofheinz F et al (2013) Quantitative accuracy of attenuation correction in the Philips Ingenuity TF whole-body PET/MR system: a direct comparison with transmission-based attenuation correction. Magn Reson Mater Phy 26(1):115–126CrossRef Schramm G, Langner J, Hofheinz F et al (2013) Quantitative accuracy of attenuation correction in the Philips Ingenuity TF whole-body PET/MR system: a direct comparison with transmission-based attenuation correction. Magn Reson Mater Phy 26(1):115–126CrossRef
20.
go back to reference Conti M (2011) Why is TOF PET reconstruction a more robust method in the presence of inconsistent data? Phys Med Biol 56(1):155–168CrossRefPubMed Conti M (2011) Why is TOF PET reconstruction a more robust method in the presence of inconsistent data? Phys Med Biol 56(1):155–168CrossRefPubMed
21.
go back to reference Nuyts, J. Michel, M. Fenchel, et al. (2010) Completion of a truncated attenuation image from the attenuated PET emission data. In: IEEE nuclear science symposium conference record 2123–2127 Nuyts, J. Michel, M. Fenchel, et al. (2010) Completion of a truncated attenuation image from the attenuated PET emission data. In: IEEE nuclear science symposium conference record 2123–2127
22.
go back to reference Salomon A, Goedicke A, Schweizer B et al (2011) Simultaneous reconstruction of activity and attenuation for PET/MR. IEEE Trans Med Imaging 30:804–813CrossRefPubMed Salomon A, Goedicke A, Schweizer B et al (2011) Simultaneous reconstruction of activity and attenuation for PET/MR. IEEE Trans Med Imaging 30:804–813CrossRefPubMed
23.
go back to reference Nuyts J, Bal G, Kehren F et al (2013) Completion of a truncated attenuation image from the attenuated PET emission data. IEEE Trans Med Imaging 32:237–246CrossRefPubMed Nuyts J, Bal G, Kehren F et al (2013) Completion of a truncated attenuation image from the attenuated PET emission data. IEEE Trans Med Imaging 32:237–246CrossRefPubMed
24.
go back to reference Blumhagen JO, Ladebeck R, Fenchel M, Scheffler K (2013) MR-based field-of-view extension in MR/PET: B0 homogenization using gradient enhancement (HUGE). Magn Reson Med 70:1047–1057CrossRefPubMed Blumhagen JO, Ladebeck R, Fenchel M, Scheffler K (2013) MR-based field-of-view extension in MR/PET: B0 homogenization using gradient enhancement (HUGE). Magn Reson Med 70:1047–1057CrossRefPubMed
25.
go back to reference Blumhagen JO, Braun H, Ladebeck R et al (2014) Field of view extension and truncation correction for MR-based human attenuation correction in simultaneous MR/PET imaging. Med Phys. doi:10.1118/1.4861097 PubMed Blumhagen JO, Braun H, Ladebeck R et al (2014) Field of view extension and truncation correction for MR-based human attenuation correction in simultaneous MR/PET imaging. Med Phys. doi:10.​1118/​1.​4861097 PubMed
26.
go back to reference Hofmann M, Steinke F, Scheel V et al (2008) MRI-based attenuation correction for PET/MRI: a novel approach combining pattern recognition and atlas registration. J Nucl Med 49:1875–1883CrossRefPubMed Hofmann M, Steinke F, Scheel V et al (2008) MRI-based attenuation correction for PET/MRI: a novel approach combining pattern recognition and atlas registration. J Nucl Med 49:1875–1883CrossRefPubMed
27.
go back to reference Hofmann M, Bezrukov I, Mantlik F et al (2011) MRI-based attenuation correction for whole-body PET/MRI: quantitative evaluation of segmentation and atlas based methods. J Nucl Med 52:1392–1399CrossRefPubMed Hofmann M, Bezrukov I, Mantlik F et al (2011) MRI-based attenuation correction for whole-body PET/MRI: quantitative evaluation of segmentation and atlas based methods. J Nucl Med 52:1392–1399CrossRefPubMed
28.
go back to reference Johansson A, Karlsson M, Nyholm T (2011) CT substitute derived from MRI sequences with ultrashort echo time. Med Phys 38:2708–2714CrossRefPubMed Johansson A, Karlsson M, Nyholm T (2011) CT substitute derived from MRI sequences with ultrashort echo time. Med Phys 38:2708–2714CrossRefPubMed
29.
go back to reference Navalpakkam BK, Braun H, Kuwert T, Quick HH (2013) Magnetic Resonance-based attenuation correction for PET/MR hybrid imaging using continuous valued attenuation maps. Invest Radiol 48:323–332CrossRefPubMed Navalpakkam BK, Braun H, Kuwert T, Quick HH (2013) Magnetic Resonance-based attenuation correction for PET/MR hybrid imaging using continuous valued attenuation maps. Invest Radiol 48:323–332CrossRefPubMed
30.
go back to reference Paulus DH, Quick HH, Geppert C et al (2015) Whole-body PET/MR imaging: quantitative evaluation of a novel model-based MR attenuation correction method including bone. J Nucl Med 56:1061–1066CrossRefPubMed Paulus DH, Quick HH, Geppert C et al (2015) Whole-body PET/MR imaging: quantitative evaluation of a novel model-based MR attenuation correction method including bone. J Nucl Med 56:1061–1066CrossRefPubMed
31.
go back to reference Tellmann L, Quick HH, Bockisch A et al (2011) The effect of MR surface coils on PET quantification in whole-body PET/MR: results from a pseudo-PET/MR phantom study. Med Phys 38:2795–2805CrossRefPubMed Tellmann L, Quick HH, Bockisch A et al (2011) The effect of MR surface coils on PET quantification in whole-body PET/MR: results from a pseudo-PET/MR phantom study. Med Phys 38:2795–2805CrossRefPubMed
32.
go back to reference Paulus D, Braun H, Aklan B, Quick HH (2011) Simultaneous PET/MR imaging: MR-based attenuation correction of local radiofrequency surface coils. Med Phys 39:4306–4315CrossRef Paulus D, Braun H, Aklan B, Quick HH (2011) Simultaneous PET/MR imaging: MR-based attenuation correction of local radiofrequency surface coils. Med Phys 39:4306–4315CrossRef
33.
go back to reference Kartmann R, Paulus DH, Braun H, Aklan B, Ziegler S, Navalpakkam BK, Lentschig M, Quick HH (2013) Integrated PET/MR imaging: automatic attenuation correction of flexible RF coils. Med Phys. doi:10.1118/1.4812685 PubMed Kartmann R, Paulus DH, Braun H, Aklan B, Ziegler S, Navalpakkam BK, Lentschig M, Quick HH (2013) Integrated PET/MR imaging: automatic attenuation correction of flexible RF coils. Med Phys. doi:10.​1118/​1.​4812685 PubMed
34.
go back to reference Wollenweber SD, Delso G, Deller T, Goldhaber D, Hüllner M, Veit-Haibach P (2014) Characterization of the impact to PET quantification and image quality of an anterior array surface coil for PET/MR imaging. Magn Reson Mater Phy 27:149–159CrossRef Wollenweber SD, Delso G, Deller T, Goldhaber D, Hüllner M, Veit-Haibach P (2014) Characterization of the impact to PET quantification and image quality of an anterior array surface coil for PET/MR imaging. Magn Reson Mater Phy 27:149–159CrossRef
35.
go back to reference Dixon AK (1983) Abdominal fat assessed by computed tomography: sex difference in distribution. Clin Radiol 34:189–191CrossRefPubMed Dixon AK (1983) Abdominal fat assessed by computed tomography: sex difference in distribution. Clin Radiol 34:189–191CrossRefPubMed
36.
go back to reference Schramm G, Langner J, Hofheinz F et al (2013) Influence and compensation of truncation artifacts in MR-based attenuation correction in PET/MR. IEEE Trans Med Imaging 32:2056–2063CrossRefPubMed Schramm G, Langner J, Hofheinz F et al (2013) Influence and compensation of truncation artifacts in MR-based attenuation correction in PET/MR. IEEE Trans Med Imaging 32:2056–2063CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Investigating the state-of-the-art in whole-body MR-based attenuation correction: an intra-individual, inter-system, inventory study on three clinical PET/MR systems
Authors
Thomas Beyer
Martin L. Lassen
Ronald Boellaard
Gaspar Delso
Maqsood Yaqub
Bernhard Sattler
Harald H. Quick
Publication date
01-02-2016
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine / Issue 1/2016
Print ISSN: 0968-5243
Electronic ISSN: 1352-8661
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-015-0505-4

Other articles of this Issue 1/2016

Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine 1/2016 Go to the issue