Effect of resolution recovery using graph plots on regional cerebral blood flow in healthy volunteers.

Abstract

We evaluated the effect of resolution recovery (RR) using graph plots on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in brain perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images derived from healthy volunteers and patients diagnosed with probable Alzheimer's disease. We acquired brain perfusion SPECT images with scatter correction (SC), computed tomography-based attenuation correction (CTAC), and RR from a three-dimensional brain phantom and from healthy volunteers. We then compared contrast-to-noise ratio, count density ratios, increase maps, and rCBF using statistical parametric mapping 8. Regional brain counts were significantly increased from 20-24% with SC, CTAC, and RR compared with SC and CTAC. Mean CBF in healthy volunteers was 42.5±5.4mL/100g/min. Average rCBF determined using SC, CTAC and RR increased 7.5, 2.0, and 3.7% at the thalamus, posterior cingulate, and whole brain, respectively, compared with SC and CTAC. Resolution recovery caused variations in normal rCBF because counts increased in cerebral regions.