In idiopathic Parkinson disease and atypical parkinsonian disorders, central dopaminergic and overall brain functional activity are altered to different degrees, causing difficulties in achieving an unambiguous clinical diagnosis. A dual examination using I-123-FP-CIT (I-123-N-omega-fluoropropyl- 2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-iodophenyl) nortropane, or I-123-ioflupane) SPECT and F-18-FDG PET provides complementary information on dopamine transporter (DAT) availability and overall brain functional activity, respectively. Parametric images based on a single, dynamic C-11-PE2I (N-(3-iodoprop-2E-enyl)-2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-methyl-phenyl) nortropane) scan potentially supply both DAT availability (nondisplaceable binding potential [BPND]) and relative cerebral blood flow (relative delivery [R-1]) at voxel level. This study aimed to evaluate the validity of C-11-PE2I PET against the dual-modality approach using I-123-FP-CIT SPECT and F-18-FDG PET.

Methods: Sixteen patients with parkinsonian disorders had a dual examination with F-18-FDG PET and I-123-FP-CIT SPECT following clinical routines and additionally an experimental C-11-PE2I PET scan. Parametric BPND and R-1 images were generated using receptor parametric mapping with the cerebellum as a reference. T1-weighted MR imaging was used for automated definition of volumes of interest (VOI). The DAT VOIs included the basal ganglia, whereas the overall brain functional activity was examined using VOIs across the brain. BPND and R-1 values were compared with normalized I-123-FP-CIT and F-18-FDG uptake values, respectively, using Pearson correlations and regression analyses. In addition, 2 masked interpreters evaluated the images visually, in both the routine and the experimental datasets, for comparison of patient diagnoses.

Results: Parametric C-11-PE2I BPND and R-1 images showed high consistency with I-123-FP-CIT SPECT and F-18-FDG PET images. Correlations between C-11-PE2I BPND and I-123-FP-CIT uptake ratios were 0.97 and 0.76 in the putamen and caudate nucleus, respectively. Regional C-11-PE2I R-1 values were moderately to highly correlated with normalized F-18-FDG values (range, 0.61-0.94). Visual assessment of DAT availability showed a high consistency between C-11-PE2I BPND and I-123-FP-CIT images, whereas the consistency was somewhat lower for appraisal of overall brain functional activity using I-123-FP-CIT and F-18-FDG images. Substantial differences were found between clinical diagnosis and both neuro-imaging diagnoses.

Conclusion: A single, dynamic C-11-PE2I PET investigation is a powerful alternative to a dual examination with I-123-FP-CIT SPECT and F-18-FDG PET for differential diagnosis of parkinsonian disorders. A large-scale patient study is, however, needed to further investigate distinct pathologic patterns in overall brain functional activity for various parkinsonian disorders.

Epilepsy is a common neurological disease affecting 6 million people in Europe. Early prevention and accurate diagnosis and treatment are of importance to obtain seizure freedom. In this thesis new applications of carbon-11-labelled tracers in PET and autoradiographic studies were explored in focal epilepsy.

Patients with low-grade gliomas often experience epileptic seizures. A retrospective PET-study assessing seizure activity, metabolic rate measured with ¹¹C-methionine and other known prognostic factors was performed in patients with glioma. No correlation was found between seizure activity and uptake of methionine. The presence and termination of early seizures was a favourable prognostic factor.

Activation of the neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor by substance P (SP) induces epileptic activity. PET with the NK1 receptor antagonist GR205171 was performed in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and healthy controls. In TLE patients an increased NK1 receptor availability was found in both hemispheres, most pronounced in anterior cingulate gyrus ipsilateral to seizure onset. A positive correlation between NK1 receptors and seizure frequency was observed in ipsilateral medial structures consistent with an intrinsic network using the NK1-SP receptor system for transmission of seizure activity.

The uptake of ¹⁸F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose (FDG) is related to cerebral blood flow (CBF). Previously, methods to estimate blood flow from dynamic PET data have been described. A retrospective study was conducted in 15 patients undergoing epilepsy surgery investigation, including PET with ¹¹C-FDG and ¹¹C-Flumazenil (FMZ). The dynamic FMZ dataset and pharmacokinetic modeling with a multilinear reference tissue model were used to determine images of relative CBF. Agreement between data of FDG and CBF was analyzed showing a close association between interictal brain metabolism and relative CBF.

Epilepsy often occurs after traumatic brain injuries. Changes in glia and inhibitory neuronal cells contribute to the chain of events leading to seizures. Autoradiography with ¹¹C-PK11195, ¹¹C-L-deprenyl and ¹¹C-Flumazenil in an animal model of posttraumatic epilepsy studied the temporal and spatial distribution of microglia, astrocytes and GABAergic neurons. Results showed an instant increase in microglial activity that subsequently normalized, a late formation of astrogliosis and an instant and prolonged decease in GABA binding. The model can be used to visualize pathophysiological events during the epileptogenesis.

Background and purpose

The aims of this study were (i) to determine the correlation between seizure activity and the metabolic rate of the tumour measured by 11Cmethionine PET (MET PET) in patients with grade 2 gliomas, and (ii) to assess the prognostic impact of early seizure manifestations on patient survival.

Methods

In this retrospective review, early seizure manifestations were studied in 101 patients with supratentorial grade 2 gliomas subjected to MET PET as part of the pretreatment tumour investigation. Seizure manifestations as a variable was then used in multivariate survival analyses, together with established prognostic factors for this patient group.

Results

Of all 101 cases, 88 patients had seizures at tumour presentation. Fortyseven were seizure free at the early stage of the disease, whereas 54 had recurrent seizures. Patients with seizures at tumour presentation had a more favourable outcome before and after (P = 0.006) adjustment for conventional prognostic factors. However, for those who continued to have seizures early in the disease, the outcome was worse (P = 0.003). We found no significant correlation between MET PET and the seizure manifestations of the patients.

Conclusion

The presence and termination of early seizure manifestations may be favourable prognostic factors in patients with low-grade gliomas.

Twelve children, all boys, aged 4 to 7 years, with a diagnosis of autistic disorder and low concentrations of spinal 6R-l-erythro-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin (tetrahydrobiopterin) were selected to participate in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study. The children received a daily dose of 3 mg tetrahydrobiopterin per kilogram during 6 months alternating with placebo. Treatment-induced effects were assessed with the Childhood Autism Rating Scale every third month. The results showed small nonsignificant changes in the total scores of Childhood Autism Rating Scale after 3- and 6-month treatment. Post hoc analysis looking at the 3 core symptoms of autism, that is, social interaction, communication, and stereotyped behaviors, revealed a significant improvement of the social interaction score after 6 months of active treatment. In addition, a high positive correlation was found between response of the social interaction score and IQ. The results indicate a possible effect of tetrahydrobiopterin treatment.

PURPOSE: Activation of the neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor by neuropeptide substance P (SP) induces and maintains epileptic activity in various experimental models of epilepsy. The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether neurobiological changes linked to NK1-SP receptor system are associated with hyperexcitability in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). A secondary objective was to investigate the relationship between seizure frequency and NK1 receptor availability.

METHODS: A positron emission tomography study was conducted with the selective NK1 receptor antagonist [(11)C]GR205171 in nine patients with TLE and 18 healthy control participants. Parametric PET images were generated using the Patlak graphical method, with cerebellum as reference region. Data analyses including group comparisons were performed using statistical parametric mapping.

RESULTS: Patients with TLE showed increased NK1 receptor availability in both hemispheres with the most pronounced increase in anterior cingulate gyrus ipsilateral to seizure onset. A positive correlation between NK1 receptor availability and seizure frequency was observed in the medial temporal lobe and in the lentiform nucleus ipsilateral to the seizure onset.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that there is an intrinsic network using the NK1-SP receptor system for synaptic transmission and epileptiform activity in TLE.

Point mutations in the amyloid precursor protein gene (APP) cause familial Alzheimer's disease (AD) by increasing generation or altering conformation of amyloid beta (A beta). Here, we describe the Uppsala APP mutation (Delta 690-695), the first reported deletion causing autosomal dominant AD. Affected individuals have an age at symptom onset in their early forties and suffer from a rapidly progressing disease course. Symptoms and biomarkers are typical of AD, with the exception of normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) A beta 42 and only slightly pathological amyloid-positron emission tomography signals. Mass spectrometry and Western blot analyses of patient CSF and media from experimental cell cultures indicate that the Uppsala APP mutation alters APP processing by increasing beta-secretase cleavage and affecting alpha-secretase cleavage. Furthermore, in vitro aggregation studies and analyses of patient brain tissue samples indicate that the longer form of mutated A beta, A beta Upp1-42(Delta 19-24), accelerates the formation of fibrils with unique polymorphs and their deposition into amyloid plaques in the affected brain.

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurements are of high clinical value and can be acquired non-invasively with no radiation exposure using pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (ASL). The aim of this study was to evaluate accordance in resting state CBF between ASL (CBF_ASL) and ¹⁵O-water positron emission tomography (PET) (CBF_PET) acquired simultaneously on an integrated 3T PET/MR system. The data comprised ASL and dynamic ¹⁵O-water PET data with arterial blood sampling of eighteen subjects (eight patients with focal epilepsy and ten healthy controls, age 21 to 61 years). ¹⁵O-water PET parametric CBF images were generated using a basis function implementation of the single tissue compartment model. Cortical and subcortical regions were automatically segmented using Freesurfer. Average CBF_ASL and CBF_PET in grey matter were 60 ± 20 and 75 ± 22 mL/100 g/min respectively, with a relatively high correlation (r = 0.78, p < 0.001). Bland-Altman analysis revealed poor agreement (bias = −15 mL/100 g/min, lower and upper limits of agreements = −16 and 45 mL/100 g/min, respectively) with a negative relationship. Accounting for the negative relationship, the width of the limits of agreement could be narrowed from 61 mL/100 g/min to 35 mL/100 g/min using regression-based limits of agreements. Although a high correlation between CBF_ASL and CBF_PET was found, the agreement in absolute CBF values was not sufficient for ASL to be used interchangeably with ¹⁵O-water PET.

OBJECTIVE: Cerebral perfusion analysis based on arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI has been proposed as an alternative to FDG-PET in patients with neurodegenerative disease. Z-maps show normal distribution values relating an image to a database of controls. They are routinely used for FDG-PET to demonstrate disease-specific patterns of hypometabolism at the individual level. This study aimed to compare the performance of Z-maps based on ASL to FDG-PET.

METHODS: Data were combined from two separate sites, each cohort consisting of patients with Alzheimer's disease (n = 18 + 7), frontotemporal dementia (n = 12 + 8) and controls (n = 9 + 29). Subjects underwent pseudocontinuous ASL and FDG-PET. Z-maps were created for each subject and modality. Four experienced physicians visually assessed the 166 Z-maps in random order, blinded to modality and diagnosis.

RESULTS: Discrimination of patients versus controls using ASL-based Z-maps yielded high specificity (84%) and positive predictive value (80%), but significantly lower sensitivity compared to FDG-PET-based Z-maps (53% vs. 96%, p < 0.001). Among true-positive cases, correct diagnoses were made in 76% (ASL) and 84% (FDG-PET) (p = 0.168).

CONCLUSION: ASL-based Z-maps can be used for visual assessment of neurodegenerative dementia with high specificity and positive predictive value, but with inferior sensitivity compared to FDG-PET.

KEY POINTS: • ASL-based Z-maps yielded high specificity and positive predictive value in neurodegenerative dementia. • ASL-based Z-maps had significantly lower sensitivity compared to FDG-PET-based Z-maps. • FDG-PET might be reserved for ASL-negative cases where clinical suspicion persists. • Findings were similar at two study sites.

Neuroimaging is a central part of diagnostic work-up of patients with suspected neurodegenerative disease. FDG-PET can reveal pathological changes earlier and more reliably than morphological imaging. Diagnostic accuracy can be improved by constructing 3D SSP Z-score maps, showing patterns of significant deficits. During FDG-PET, the subject receives a moderate but not insignificant dose of ionizing radiation, and a dose reduction with retained image quality is desirable. With lower dose, repeated examinations can become a useful tool for monitoring disease progress and potential effects of disease-modifying interventions. The aim of this study was to evaluate Z-maps created from low-dose and normal-dose FDG-PET of the brain, with quantitative and qualitative methods. Nine patients with neurodegenerative disorders were prospectively enrolled and nine age-matched controls were recruited through advertising. All subjects (n=18) underwent two FDG-PET scans on separate occasions; a routine and a low-dose scan. The routine dosage of FDG was 3 MBq/kg, and low dosage was 0.75 MBq/kg. 3D-SSP images showing Z-scores of < -1.96 were created from 10-minute summations. The study was comprised of a quantitative part comparing the Z-scores, and a qualitative part where experienced nuclear medicine specialists visually assessed the images. Regarding the quantitative part, Bland-Altman analysis showed a slight constant bias (0.206). Regarding qualitative discrimination between patients and controls, the performance between normal- and low-dose were equal, both showing 72% sensitivity, 83% specificity and 78% accuracy. In this study, visual assessment of 3D-SSP Z-score maps from low-dose FDG-PET provided diagnostic information highly comparable to normal-dose, with minor quantitative discrepancies.

The dosage of F-18-FDG must be sufficient to ensure adequate PET image quality. For younger patients and research controls, the lowest possible radiation dose should be used. The purpose of this study was to find a protocol for FDG-PET of the brain with reduced radiation dose and preserved quantitative characteristics. Eight patients with neurodegenerative disorders and nine controls (n= 17) underwent FDG-PET/ CT twice on separate occasions, first with normal-dose (3 MBq/ kg), and second with low-dose (0.75 MBq/ kg, 25% of the original). Five additional controls (total n= 22) underwent FDG-PET twice, using normal-dose and ultra-low-dose (0.3 MBq/ kg, 10% of original). All subjects underwent MRI. Ten-minute summation images were spatially normalized and intensity normalized. Regional standard uptake value ratios (SUV-r) were calculated using an automated atlas. SUV-r values from the normal-and low-dose images were compared pairwise. No clinically significant bias was found in any of the three groups. The mean absolute difference in regional SUV-r values was 0.015 (1.32%) in controls and 0.019 (1.67%) in patients. The ultra-low-dose protocol produced a slightly higher mean difference of 0.023 (2.10%). The main conclusion is that 0.75 MBq/ kg (56 MBq for a 75-kg subject) is a sufficient FDG dose for evaluating regional SUV-ratios in brain PET scans in adults with or without neurodegenerative disease, resulting in a reduction of total PET/ CT effective dose from 4.54 to 1.15 mSv. The ultra-low-dose (0.5 mSv) could be useful in research studies requiring serial PET in healthy controls or children.

PURPOSE: Functional imaging is becoming increasingly important for the detection of neurodegenerative disorders. Perfusion MRI with arterial spin labeling (ASL) has been reported to provide promising diagnostic possibilities but is not yet widely used in routine clinical work. The aim of this study was to compare, in a clinical setting, the visual assessment of subtracted ASL CBF maps with and without additional smoothing, to FDG-PET data.

METHODS: Ten patients with a clinical diagnosis of dementia and 11 age-matched cognitively healthy controls were examined with pseudo-continuous ASL (pCASL) and 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET). Three diagnostic physicians visually assessed the pCASL maps after subtraction only, and after postprocessing using Gaussian smoothing and GLM-based beta estimate functions. The assessment scores were compared to FDG PET values. Furthermore, the ability to discriminate patients from healthy elderly controls was assessed.

RESULTS: Smoothing improved the correlation between visually assessed regional ASL perfusion scores and the FDG PET SUV-r values from the corresponding regions. However, subtracted pCASL maps discriminated patients from healthy controls better than smoothed maps. Smoothing increased the number of false-positive patient identifications. Application of beta estimate functions had only a marginal effect.

CONCLUSION: Spatial smoothing of ASL images increased false positive results in the discrimination of hypoperfusion conditions from healthy elderly. It also decreased interreader agreement. However, regional characterization and subjective perception of image quality was improved.

[11C]PE2I is a highly selective dopamine transporter PET ligand. Parametric images based on dynamic [11C]PE2I scans, showing dopamine transporter availability (BPND) and relative cerebral blood flow (R1), can be used in differential diagnosis of parkinsonism. This work aimed to investigate a shortened scan duration and automated generation of parametric images which are two prerequisites for routine clinical application. Twelve subjects with parkinsonism and seventeen healthy controls underwent 80 min dynamic [11C]PE2I PET scans. BPND and R1 images were generated using cerebellum reference region defined on a co-registered MRI, as well as a supervised cluster analysis (SVCA)-based reference. Initial 20, 30 and 40 min of the scans were extracted and images of standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) and R1 were computed using MRI- and SVCA-based reference. Correlation was high between striatal 80 min MRI-based BPND and 40 min SVCA-based SUVR-1 (R2=0.95). High correlation was also found between R1 values in striatal and limbic regions (R2≥0.91) whereas correlation was moderate for cortical regions (R2=0.71). The results indicate that dynamic [11C]PE2I scans can be restricted to 40 min and that SVCA can be used for automatic extraction of a reference region. These outcomes will support routine applications of [11C]PE2I PET in clinical settings.

OBJECTIVES

The radioligand [(11)C]PE2I is highly selective for dopamine transporter (DAT) and can be used in vivo for investigation of changes in DAT concentration, progression of disease and validation of treatment using positron emission tomography (PET). DAT is an important protein for regulation of central dopamine concentration and DAT deficiency has been associated with several neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. Accurate parametric images are a prerequisite for clinical application of [(11)C]PE2I. The purpose of this study was to evaluate different methods for producing [(11)C]PE2I parametric images, showing binding potential (BPND) and relative delivery (R1) at the voxel level, using clinical data as well as simulations.

METHODS

Investigations were made in twelve subjects either with social anxiety disorder (n=6) or parkinsonian syndrome (n=6), each receiving an 80min dynamic PET scan. All subjects underwent a T1-weighted MRI scan which was co-registered to the PET images and used for definition of regions of interest using a probabilistic template (PVElab). Two basis function implementations (receptor parametric mapping: RPM, RPM2) of the simplified reference tissue model (SRTM) and three multilinear reference tissue models (MRTMo, MRTM and MRTM2) were used for computation of parametric BPND and R1 images. In addition, reference Logan and standard uptake value ratio (SUVr) were investigated. Evaluations of BPND and R1 images were performed using linear regression to compare the parametric methods to region-based analyses with SRTM and cerebellar gray matter as reference region. Accuracy and precision of each method were assessed by simulations.

RESULTS

Correlation and slope of linear regression between parametric and region-based BPND and R1 values in both striatum and extra-striatal regions were optimal for RPM (R(2)=0.99 for both BPND and R1; slopes 0.99 and 0.98 for BPND and R1, respectively, in striatum). In addition, accuracy and precision were best for RPM and RPM2.

CONCLUSION

The basis function methods provided more robust estimations of the parameters compared to the other models and performed best in simulations. RPM, a basis function implementation of SRTM, is the preferred method for voxel level analysis of [(11)C]PE2I PET studies.

The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate relationships between relative cerebral blood flow and striatal dopamine transporter and dopamine D2/3 availability in healthy subjects. The data comprised dynamic PET scans with two dopamine transporter tracers [¹¹C]PE2I (n = 20) and [¹⁸F]FE-PE2I (n = 20) and the D2/3 tracer [¹¹C]raclopride (n = 18). Subjects with a [¹¹C]PE2I scan also underwent a dynamic scan with the serotonin transporter tracer [¹¹C]DASB. Binding potential (BP_ND) and relative tracer delivery (R₁) values were calculated on regional and voxel-level. Striatal R₁ and BP_ND values were correlated, using either an MRI-based volume of interest (VOI) or an isocontour VOI based on the parametric BP_ND image. An inter-tracer comparison between [¹¹C]PE2I BP_ND and [¹¹C]DASB R₁ was done on a VOI-level and simulations were performed to investigate whether the constraints of the modeling could cause correlation of the parameters. A positive association was found between BP_ND and R₁ for all three dopamine tracers. A similar correlation was found for the inter-tracer correlation between [¹¹C]PE2I BP_ND and [¹¹C]DASB R₁. Simulations showed that this relationship was not caused by cross-correlation between parameters in the kinetic model. In conclusion, these results suggest an association between resting-state striatal dopamine function and relative blood flow in healthy subjects.

Objectives: The penalized likelihood estimation reconstruction algorithm Q.Clear (GE Healthcare) allows for full convergence and edge preservation through a block sequential regularized expectation maximization technique. In this study the performance of Q.Clear was investigated for different penalization factors (β) with the aim to optimize its clinical use for four different tracers.

Methods: Q.Clear reconstructions with β values of 200, 400, 600 and 800 were compared to time-of-flight ordered subset expectation maximization (TF-OSEM) (3 iterations, 16 subsets and 5 mm Gaussian filter) with point spread function recovery. Clinical whole-body PET/CT (Discovery MI, GE Healthcare) scans with ⁶⁸Ga-DOTATOC, ¹⁸F-FDG, ¹¹C-acetate or ¹⁸F-fluoride were analyzed for level of noise in healthy liver tissue, signal to noise ratio (SNR), signal to background ratio (SBR) and maximum standardized uptake value (SUV_max). In addition, acquisition times per bed position and transaxial field of view (FOV) of the reconstructed images were varied. For each tracer, images from 10 patients were included, with a mean of 30 lesions per tracer. A spherical reference volume of interest (VOI) was placed in the liver and lesions were delineated employing a 41% threshold of the maximum voxel.

Results: The lowest levels of noise were reached with the highest beta factor resulting in the highest SNR, but this in turn gave the lowest SBR. Noise equivalence to OSEM was found with β 600 for ⁶⁸Ga-DOTATOC, ¹⁸F-FDG and ¹⁸F-fluoride, and β 400 for ¹¹C-acetate with a resulting significant increase of SUV_max (19.4%, 9.7%, 22.5% and 19.0% respectively) (P < 0.0001, paired t-test), SNR (22.1%, 22.6%, 9.5% and 33.6%) and SBR (19.5%, 11.7%, 21.3% and 18.5%) compared to OSEM. SNR decreased while SBR increased for all tracers when extending FOV from 500 to 700 mm, but only significantly for ¹⁸F-fluoride. Decreasing image acquisition time gave no statistical difference of SUV_max for ⁶⁸Ga-DOTATOC, ¹⁸F-fluoride (2 to 1.5 min) for any reconstruction method nor for ¹¹C-acetate (3 to 2 min) with β 蠅 400. Decreasing time for ¹⁸F-FDG (3 to 2 min) resulted in a change of optimal beta to β 800 in order to reach noise equivalence to OSEM along with maintaining a higher SNR than OSEM.

Conclusion: Images reconstructed by Q.Clear result in a tracer-dependent increase in tumour SUV_max values compared to OSEM at matched levels of noise, and an improved SNR. The optimal penalization factor, both in terms of noise-equivalence to OSEM and in terms of absolute SNR, is tracer dependent.

PURPOSE: To assess how some of the new developments in brain positron emission tomography (PET) image reconstruction affect quantitative measures and software-aided assessment of pathology in patients with neurodegenerative diseases.

METHODS: PET data were grouped into four cohorts: prodromal Alzheimer's disease patients and controls receiving [¹⁸F]flutemetamol, and neurodegenerative disease patients and controls receiving [¹⁸F]FDG PET scans. Reconstructed images were obtained by ordered-subsets expectation maximization (OSEM; 3 iterations (i), 16/34 subsets (s), 3/5-mm filter, ±time-of-flight (TOF), ±point-spread function (PSF)) and block-sequential regularized expectation maximization (BSREM; TOF, PSF, β-value 75-300). Standardized uptake value ratios (SUVR) and z-scores were calculated (CortexID Suite, GE Healthcare) using cerebellar gray matter, pons, whole cerebellum and whole brain as reference regions.

RESULTS: In controls, comparable results to the normal database were obtained with OSEM 3i/16 s 5-mm reconstruction. TOF, PSF and BSREM either increased or decreased the relative uptake difference to the normal subjects' database within the software, depending on the tracer and chosen reference area, i.e. resulting in increased absolute z-scores. Normalizing to pons and whole brain for [¹⁸F]flutemetamol and [¹⁸F]FDG, respectively, increased absolute differences between reconstructions methods compared to normalizing to cerebellar gray matter and whole cerebellum when applying TOF, PSF and BSREM.

CONCLUSIONS: Software-aided assessment of patient pathologies should be used with caution when employing other image reconstruction methods than those used for acquisition of the normal database.

The resolution and quantitative accuracy of PET are highly influenced by the reconstruction method. Penalized-likelihood estimation algorithms allow for fully convergent iterative reconstruction, generating a higher image contrast than ordered-subsets expectation maximization (OSEM) while limiting noise. In this study, a type of penalized reconstruction known as block-sequential regularized expectation maximization (BSREM) was compared with time-of-flight OSEM (TOF OSEM). Various strengths of noise penalization factor β were tested along with various acquisition durations and transaxial fields of view (FOVs) with the aim of evaluating the performance and clinical use of BSREM for 18F-FDG PET/CT, both quantitatively and in a qualitative visual evaluation. Methods: Eleven clinical whole-body 18F-FDG PET/CT examinations acquired on a digital TOF PET/CT scanner were included. The data were reconstructed using BSREM with point-spread function recovery and β-factors of 133, 267, 400, and 533—and using TOF OSEM with point-spread function—for various acquisition times per bed position and various FOVs. Noise level, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), signal-to-background ratio (SBR), and SUV were analyzed. A masked evaluation of visual image quality, rating several aspects, was performed by 2 nuclear medicine physicians to complement the analysis. Results: The lowest levels of noise were reached with the highest β-factor, resulting in the highest SNR, which in turn resulted in the lowest SBR. A β-factor of 400 gave noise equivalent to TOF OSEM but produced a significant increase in SUVmax (11%), SNR (22%), and SBR (12%). BSREM with a β-factor of 533 at a decreased acquisition duration (2 min/bed position) was comparable to TOF OSEM at a full acquisition duration (3 min/bed position). Reconstructed FOV had an impact on BSREM outcome measures; SNR increased and SBR decreased when FOV was shifted from 70 to 50 cm. The evaluation of visual image quality resulted in similar scores for reconstructions, although a β-factor of 400 obtained the highest mean whereas a β-factor of 267 was ranked best in overall image quality, contrast, sharpness, and tumor detectability. Conclusion: In comparison with TOF OSEM, penalized BSREM reconstruction resulted in an increased tumor SUVmax and an improved SNR and SBR at a matched level of noise. BSREM allowed for a shorter acquisition than TOF OSEM, with equal image quality.

Objectives: Quantitative imaging of the synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) with PET can be used as a measure of synaptic density in the human brain (Finnema et al, Science Tr Med 2016), changes of which occur in many neurodegenerative diseases. ¹¹C-UCBA has previously been validated as an SV2A tracer in pigs (Estrada et al, Nucl Med Biol 2016), showing dose-dependent blocking and reversible binding. The aim of the present work was to evaluate tracer kinetic models and simplified methods for quantification of synaptic density using ¹¹C-UCBA in humans.

Methods: Eight subjects (6 epilepsy patients, 2 controls) underwent 90 min PET scans starting with injection of 5 MBq/kg ¹¹C-UCBA on a time-of-flight integrated PET-MR scanner (Signa PET-MR, GE Healthcare). Arterial blood was withdrawn for measurements of whole blood and plasma concentrations and metabolite analysis. Images were reconstructed using zero-echo-time MR-based attenuation correction, accounting for bone attenuation. A probabilistic VOI template was defined on a T1-MRI image, acquired during the PET scan, and transferred to the dynamic PET images. A centrum semiovale VOI was drawn as potential reference tissue. Data were analysed using single-tissue (1T2k), two-tissue irreversible (2T3k) and reversible (2T4k) models, as well as the simplified reference tissue model (SRTM) and plasma- and reference-Logan methods, resulting in total distribution volume (V_T) and binding potential (BP_ND) values, with binding potential both estimated directly and as distribution volume ratio to centrum semiovale (DVR). The optimal compartment model was determined using the Akaike information criterion (AIC). Standardized uptake value ratios (SUVR) at various time points were compared to modelling outcomes using regression analysis.

Results: Plasma and brain kinetics of ¹¹C-UCBA were slow, with peak activity in brain at 70-80 min. Parent fraction was approximately 50% at 90 min. Plasma-input data were best described using the 2T4k model, but this could often not provide robust V_T or BP_ND values. Mean plasma-Logan V_T was 24±17. Plasma-Logan DVR using centrum semiovale as reference tissue correlated well with 2T4k DVR (R² 0.94) for those regions where robust DVR values could be determined. Reference-Logan DVR showed good correlation with plasma-Logan DVR (R² 0.72). Plasma-Logan DVR-1 and SUVR-1 images are shown in Figure 1. SUVR for the 40-60 and 70-90 min intervals correlated well with reference-Logan DVR (R² 0.92 and 0.98).

Conclusion: Slow kinetics of ¹¹C-UCBA resulted in poor robustness of outcome parameters of reversible compartment models. However, reference-Logan DVR correlated well with plasma-Logan DVR. SUVR at 70-90 min p.i. correlated well with DVR and may be used as a simplified measure of synaptic density using ¹¹C-UCBA. Research Support: Uppsala County Council

ObjectiveTo perform a comprehensive characterization of a cohort of patients with chorea-acanthocytosis (ChAc) in Sweden.MethodsClinical assessments, targeted genetic studies, neuroimaging with MRI, [F-18]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET, and dopamine transporter with I-123 FP-CIT (DaTscan) SPECT. One patient underwent magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS).ResultsFour patients living in Sweden but with different ethnical backgrounds were included. Their clinical features were variable. Biallelic VPS13A mutations were confirmed in all patients, including 3 novel mutations. All tested patients had either low or absent chorein levels. One patient had progressive caudate atrophy. Investigation using FDG-PET revealed severe bilateral striatal hypometabolism, and DaTscan SPECT displayed presynaptic dopaminergic deficiency in 3 patients. MRS demonstrated reduced N-acetylaspartate/creatine (Cr) ratio and mild elevation of both choline/Cr and combined glutamate and glutamine/Cr in the striatum in 1 case. One patient died during sleep, and another was treated with deep brain stimulation, which transiently attenuated feeding dystonia but not his gait disorder or chorea.ConclusionsLarger longitudinal neuroimaging studies with different modalities, particularly MRS, are needed to determine their potential role as biomarkers for ChAc.

PURPOSE: To determine if (11)C-L-methionine PET is a useful tool in the evaluation of the long-term effect of proton beam treatment in patients with meningioma remnant.

METHODS: Included in the study were 19 patients (4 men, 15 women) with intracranial meningioma remnants who received hypofractionated high-energy proton beam treatment. Patients were examined with (11)C-L-methionine PET and MRI prior to treatment and after 6 months, and 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 10 years. Temporal changes in methionine uptake ratio, meningioma volume, meningioma regrowth and clinical symptoms throughout the follow-up period were evaluated.

RESULTS: In 17 patients the tumour volume was unchanged throughout the follow-up. The methionine uptake ratio on PET decreased over the years in most patients. In two patients the tumour remnant showed progression on MRI. In these patients, prior to the volume increase on MRI, the methionine uptake ratio increased. One patient experienced transient clinical symptoms and showed radiological evidence of a radiation-induced reaction close to the irradiated field.

CONCLUSION: Proton beam treatment is a safe and effective treatment for achieving long-term growth arrest in meningioma remnants. Follow-up with (11)C-L-methionine PET may be a valuable adjunct to, but not a replacement for, standard radiological follow-up.

The area of predominant perifocal [F-18]fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18-FDG) hypometabolism and reduced [C-11]flumazenil (C-11-FMZ) -binding on PET scans is currently considered to contain the epileptogenic zone and corresponds anatomically to the area localizing epileptogenicity in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). The question is whether the volume of the perifocal pre-operative PET abnormalities, the extent of their resection, and the volume of the non-resected abnormalities affects the post-operative seizure outcome. The sample group consisted of 32 patients with mesial temporal sclerosis who underwent anteromedial temporal lobe resection for refractory TLE. All patients had pathologic perifocal findings on both of the PET modalities as well as on the whole-brain MRI. The volumetric data of the PET and MRI abnormalities within the resected temporal lobe were estimated by automated quantitative voxel-based analysis. The obtained volumetric data were investigated in relation to the outcome subgroups of patients (Engel classification) determined at the 2-year post-operative follow-up. The mean volume of the pre-operative perifocal F-18-FDG- and C-11-FMZ PET abnormalities in the volumes of interest (VOI) of the epileptogenic temporal lobe, the mean resected volume of these PET abnormalities, the mean volume of the non-resected PET abnormalities, and the mean MRI-derived resected volume were not significantly related to the outcome subgroups and had a low prediction for individual freedom from seizures. The extent of pre-surgical perifocal PET abnormalities, the extent of their resection, and the extent of non-resected abnormalities were not useful predictors of individual freedom from seizures in patients with TLE.

Background: This study describes the prevalence of CNS damage biomarkers and other CNS pathology in a psychiatric patient cohort enriched for clinical red flags of suspected autoimmune psychiatric disease. The study further explores how CNS damage biomarkers relate to clinical red flags and psychiatric features. 

Methods: 127 patients were included in the study. A routine cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis was performed and anti-neuronal antibodies were measured.  CNS damage biomarkers (neurofilament light chain protein (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAp) and total Tau (t-Tau)) in CSF were related to proposed clinical red flags for autoimmune psychiatric disease, other psychiatric features and MRI and EEG findings. 

Results: Twenty-seven per cent had elevated levels of CNS damage biomarkers and 21% had basic CSF analysis alterations. Six per cent had anti-neuronal antibodies in serum and 2% in CSF. Fifty percent of patients examined with MRI (n=88) had signs of atrophy and 41% had white matter changes. Twenty-five percent of patients with EEG recordings (n=70) had pathological EEG findings. Elevated NfL, GFAp and t-Tau levels were associated with the presence of clinical red flags. Elevated GFAp and t-Tau were also associated with higher psychiatric symptom ratings.

Conclusions: Pre-selection based on clinical red flags for autoimmune psychiatric disease identifies a population where 27% have CSF signs of CNS tissue damage, 21% have CSF alterations suggesting neuroinflammation or blood-brain barrier dysfunction and 6% have anti-neuronal antibodies. Moreover, pathological levels of NfL, GFAp or t-Tau in CSF may be related to distinctive red flags and patterns of psychiatric manifestations. 

There is growing evidence suggesting that immunological mechanisms play a significant role in the development of psychiatric symptoms in certain patient subgroups. However, the relationship between clinical red flags for suspected autoimmune psychiatric disease and signs of central nervous system (CNS) pathology (e.g., routine cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) alterations, CNS damage markers, neurophysiological or neuroimaging findings) has received limited attention. Here, we aimed to describe the prevalence and distribution of potential CNS pathologies in psychiatric patients in relation to clinical red flags for autoimmune psychiatric disease and psychiatric symptoms. CSF routine findings and CNS damage markers; neurofilament light chain protein (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and total Tau (t-Tau), in CSF from 127 patients with psychiatric disease preselected for suspected immunological involvement were related to recently proposed clinical red flags, psychiatric features, and MRI and EEG findings. Twenty-one percent had abnormal routine CSF findings and 27% had elevated levels of CNS damage markers. Six percent had anti-neuronal antibodies in serum and 2% had these antibodies in the CSF. Sixty-six percent of patients examined with MRI (n = 88) had alterations, mostly atrophy or nonspecific white matter lesions. Twenty-seven percent of patients with EEG recordings (n = 70) had abnormal findings. Elevated NfL levels were associated with comorbid autoimmunity and affective dysregulation symptoms. Elevated t-Tau was associated with catatonia and higher ratings of agitation/hyperactivity. Elevated GFAP was associated with acute onset, atypical presentation, infectious prodrome, tics, depressive/anxiety symptom ratings and overall greater psychiatric symptom burden. In conclusion, preselection based on suspected autoimmune psychiatric disease identifies a population with a high prevalence of CSF alterations suggesting CNS pathology. Future studies should examine the value of these markers in predicting treatment responses.

Background: In preclinical studies, the positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with [C-11]UCB-A provided promising results for imaging synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A) as a proxy for synaptic density. This paper reports the first-in-human [C-11]UCB-A PET study to characterise its kinetics in healthy subjects and further evaluate SV2A-specific binding.

Results: Twelve healthy subjects underwent 90-min baseline [C-11]UCB-A scans with PET/MRI, with two subjects participating in an additional blocking scan with the same scanning procedure after a single dose of levetiracetam (1500 mg). Our results indicated abundant [C-11]UCB-A brain uptake across all cortical regions, with slow elimination. Kinetic modelling of [C-11]UCB-A PET using various compartment models suggested that the irreversible two-tissue compartment model best describes the kinetics of the radioactive tracer. Accordingly, the Patlak graphical analysis was used to simplify the analysis. The estimated SV2A occupancy determined by the Lassen plot was around 66%. Significant specific binding at baseline and comparable binding reduction as grey matter precludes the use of centrum semiovale as reference tissue.

Conclusions: [C-11]UCB-A PET imaging enables quantifying SV2A in vivo. However, its slow kinetics require a long scan duration, which is impractical with the short half-life of carbon-11. Consequently, the slow kinetics and complicated quantification methods may restrict its use in humans.