Novel quantitative whole-body parametric PET imaging utilizing multiple clustering realizations

Abstract

Whole-body parametric PET imaging along with Patlak graphical analysis has the potential to provide improved diagnosis. However, a voxel-based fitting approach for a short dynamic scan protocol results in high statistical noise in the parametric images. The objective of our study is to present the framework of a novel multiple clustering realizations (MCR) method for estimating parametric images with improved image quality. The method relies primarily on using standard k-means clustering for segmenting the time-activity curves within the whole-body volume. In addition, in order to obtain improved accuracy without increasing noise, multiple realizations of clustering were performed. During each realization, cluster centers were selected from a unique ordered set of time-activity curves within the whole body volume. All the remaining data were classified into the cluster centers based on minimum Eucledian distance measure. Patlak analysis was performed on the cluster average to form the slope and intercept images. Parametric images thus obtained for all realizations were averaged. An XCAT phantom based simulations for the torso were performed using dynamic time-activity curves to model FDG uptake. Five dynamic images each representing 1 min scan time with 7 min intervals were created starting 60 minutes post injection. In addition, 5 whole-body dynamic FDG patient datasets with image-derived blood input function and whole-body dynamic data measurements were also used. All dynamic data were reconstructed using OSEM applying corrections for image-degrading factors. Slope and intercept parametric images were obtained for the voxel-fitting and MCR method. Noise in a liver region of interest increased as a function of the number of clusters for the simulated data. On the other hand, bias decreased with increasing number of clusters. However, as number of clustering realizations increased, noise reduced and K i estimates stabilized. The parametric images obtained with MCR method showed better image quality compared to voxel-based fitting method for the patient and simulated datasets. Multiple clustering realizations method has the potential to provide improved parametric image quality for short scan whole-body parametric PET imaging.