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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

Published in:

01-01-2013 | Original Article

Improved mapping and quantification of serotonin transporter availability in the human brainstem with the HRRT

Authors: Martin Schain, Miklós Tóth, Zsolt Cselényi, Ryosuke Arakawa, Christer Halldin, Lars Farde, Andrea Varrone

Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging | Issue 2/2013

Abstract

Purpose

The serotonin system is involved in many physiological functions and clinical conditions. Serotonergic neurons originate from the raphe nuclei in the brainstem, and reliable estimates of receptor/transporter availability in the raphe in vivo are thus of interest. Though positron emission tomography (PET) can be used to quantify receptor distribution in the brain, high noise levels prevent reliable estimation of radioligand binding in small regions such as the raphe. For this purpose, parametric imaging in combination with high-resolution PET systems may provide images with reduced noise levels and sufficient contrast for reliable quantification. This study examined the potential to evaluate radioligand binding in brainstem nuclei, and assessed the effect of improved resolution on the outcome measures.

Methods

For comparative purposes, radioligand binding was measured with an ECAT EXACT HR PET system (resolution about 4.5 mm FWHM) and a high-resolution research tomograph (HRRT) system (resolution about 1.5 mm FWHM). Six subjects were examined with both systems on the same day using the serotonin transporter radioligand [¹¹C]MADAM. Parametric images of binding potential (BP _ND) were obtained using a wavelet-aided approach. Regions of interest (ROIs) were delineated using a threshold-based semiautomatic delineation procedure for five brainstem structures. Regional BP _ND values were estimated by applying the ROIs to the parametric images, and the percentage difference in BP _ND between the systems was calculated.

Results

Signals for [¹¹C]MADAM binding were obtained for all five brainstem structures. Overall, the HRRT provided 30–40 % higher BP _ND values than the HR (p = 0.0017), independent of thresholds used in the ROI delineation procedure.

Conclusion

The methodology used enabled the estimation of [¹¹C]MADAM binding in the small nuclei of the brainstem. Differences in the BP _ND values calculated using data from the two systems were mainly attributable to their differing resolutions. The estimated BP _ND values provided lower across-subject variability than those previously obtained using compartment analysis. This procedure may therefore facilitate quantitative studies of receptor/transporter availability in the brainstem.

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Title: Improved mapping and quantification of serotonin transporter availability in the human brainstem with the HRRT
Authors: Martin Schain
Miklós Tóth
Zsolt Cselényi
Ryosuke Arakawa
Christer Halldin
Lars Farde
Andrea Varrone
Publication date: 01-01-2013
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging / Issue 2/2013
Print ISSN: 1619-7070
Electronic ISSN: 1619-7089
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-012-2260-3

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Improved mapping and quantification of serotonin transporter availability in the human brainstem with the HRRT

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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