Total body perfusion imaging with 15O-water PET

Abstract: Background Positron emission tomography scanners can be used together with the PET tracer 15O-water to image perfusion in the body. It has mainly been used to image perfusion in the brain and heart. The new total-body PET scanners have a larger axial field-of-view, making imaging of the whole body possible without moving the patient. Objectives The objective of this study was to use data from a total-body PET scanner to map perfusion in the whole body all at once. Methods Cluster analysis was used to identify time-activity curves which were used in a compartment model describing the tracer kinetics. The compartment model equations were solved using linear regression and whole-body parametric images were generated. The results were validated using nonlinear regression. Result and conclusions The results showed that the method is promising but in need of adjustments. The method needs to be tested on more data and improvement in calculations for the lungs and for time delay is needed. With improvements, this method could be used for mapping perfusion in the whole body.