Influence of different image processing methods on mensuration of cardiac function in myocardial perfusion imaging

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the influences of FBP and OSEM (with different iteration numbers or subset numbers) on cardiac function parameters with MPI, and to identify a suitable clinical method. Methods The MPI of 66 patients (33 males, 33 females, age range: 18-77 years) from January 2012 to December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The imaging data was reconstructed with FBP and 5 different OSEM (4-16 subsets and 2-4 iterations) in order to evaluate if there was any difference of cardiac function parameters calculated by QGS between the different image processing methods. In addition, the results were compared with those of cardiac ultrasonography. One-way analysis of variance was used for data analysis. Results The statistical differences of LVEF, EDV, and ESV(F values: 10.73, 4.89 and 5.97, all P<0.05) were found among 6 reconstructed methods. The values of LVEF were (66.14±11.12)%, (75.05±12.10)%, (70.09±11.27)%, (66.88±10.38)%, (64.97±10.25)%, and (62.58±9.84)%. Those of EDV were (77.32±27.58), (67.97±27.56), (75.10±27.89), (81.03±28.11), (84.94±29.07), and (89.98±29.71) ml, and the ESV values were (28.71±10.04), (19.71±16.51), (25.13±17.66), (29.01±18.47), (32.10±19.63), and (35.83±20.41) ml respectively. The cardiac function parameters measured by OSEM (with 2 iterations, 12 subsets) were much similar to that measured by cardiac ultrasonography. Conclusion Compared with other 5 processing methods of MPI, the OSEM (with 2 iterations, 12 subsets) method may be more suitable for practical clinical application. Key words: Myocardial perfusion imaging; Ventricular function; Tomography, emission-computed, single-photon; Tomography, X-ray computed; Image processing, computer-assisted; Technetium Tc 99m sestamibi