Effects of lung motion, and tracer kinetics corrections on pet
imaging of pulmonary function.
Mijailovich, Srboljub M., Steven Treppo, Jos[acute]e G. Venegas.
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA 02114, Harvard Medical
School, Boston MA 02115
APStracts 3:0556A, 1996.
Rhodes and co-workers (5, 6) developed a method to assess the three
dimensional distribution of by imaging the lungs with positron
emission tomography (PET) during a constant rate IV infusion of 13NN
-labeled saline solution. We have modified this methodology in order
to obtain high resolution-low noise PET images of local where lung
motion artifact was eliminated by respiratory gating of image
collection. In addition, we have refined and implemented the methods
to assess local alveolar ventilation () by imaging the washout of
equilibrated 13NN, and local perfusion () by imaging the distribution
of an intravenous bolus of 13NN-labeled saline solution during apnea.
This paper experimentally evaluates the effect of the implemented
modifications in mechanically ventilated and anesthetized dogs. We
found that the lack of gating had no significant effect on the
average but the spatial heterogeneity (pixel by pixel coefficient of
variation squared, COV2=SD2/Mean2) was underestimated by 14%. The
lack of gating during the washout underestimated the average specific
ventilation () by 11% and decreased the corresponding COV2 by 50%.
Received 22 February 1996; accepted in final form 12 November
1996.
APS Manuscript Number A314-5.
Article publication pending Journal of Applied Physiology.
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 31 December 1996