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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

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Open Access 17-06-2023 | Original Article

No impact of attenuation and scatter correction on the interpretation of dopamine transporter SPECT in patients with clinically uncertain parkinsonian syndrome

Authors: Tassilo Schiebler, Ivayla Apostolova, Franziska Lara Mathies, Catharina Lange, Susanne Klutmann, Ralph Buchert

Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging | Issue 11/2023

Abstract

Purpose

The benefit from attenuation and scatter correction (ASC) of dopamine transporter (DAT)-SPECT for the detection of nigrostriatal degeneration in clinical routine is still a matter of debate. The current study evaluated the impact of ASC on visual interpretation and semi-quantitative analysis of DAT-SPECT in a large patient sample.

Methods

One thousand seven hundred forty consecutive DAT-SPECT with ¹²³I-FP-CIT from clinical routine were included retrospectively. SPECT images were reconstructed iteratively without and with ASC. Attenuation correction was based on uniform attenuation maps, scatter correction on simulation. All SPECT images were categorized with respect to the presence versus the absence of Parkinson-typical reduction of striatal ¹²³I-FP-CIT uptake by three independent readers. Image reading was performed twice to assess intra-reader variability. The specific ¹²³I-FP-CIT binding ratio (SBR) was used for automatic categorization, separately with and without ASC.

Results

The mean proportion of cases with discrepant categorization by the same reader between the two reading sessions was practically the same without and with ASC, about 2.2%. The proportion of DAT-SPECT with discrepant categorization without versus with ASC by the same reader was 1.66% ± 0.50% (1.09–1.95%), not exceeding the benchmark of 2.2% from intra-reader variability. This also applied to automatic categorization of the DAT-SPECT images based on the putamen SBR (1.78% discrepant cases between without versus with ASC).

Conclusion

Given the large sample size, the current findings provide strong evidence against a relevant impact of ASC with uniform attenuation and simulation-based scatter correction on the clinical utility of DAT-SPECT to detect nigrostriatal degeneration in patients with clinically uncertain parkinsonian syndrome.

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Title: No impact of attenuation and scatter correction on the interpretation of dopamine transporter SPECT in patients with clinically uncertain parkinsonian syndrome
Authors: Tassilo Schiebler
Ivayla Apostolova
Franziska Lara Mathies
Catharina Lange
Susanne Klutmann
Ralph Buchert
Publication date: 17-06-2023
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging / Issue 11/2023
Print ISSN: 1619-7070
Electronic ISSN: 1619-7089
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-023-06293-2

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

No impact of attenuation and scatter correction on the interpretation of dopamine transporter SPECT in patients with clinically uncertain parkinsonian syndrome

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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