Quantitative SPECT/CT
Molecular imaging with SPECT enables the visualization of pathophysiological and pathobiochemical processes in vivo and are widely used for clinical purposes. In clinical practice SPECT images are mostly interpreted by visual analysis and only semi-quantitative measurements are performed for SPECT imaging till now. Recently, achievements have been reached, which create new opportunities for quantification of SPECT/CT, such as new computational image analysis techniques based on edge recognition and on adaptive thresholding are used. These techniques allow to take advantage of the hybrid nature of SPECT/CT images, using the CT data to improve the anatomical definition of SPECT images. We aim to evaluate the need as well as the accuracy of quantitative SPECT/CT imaging in clinical routine. Our findings will provide additional knowledge about the usefulness and practicability of quantitative SPECT/CT. Major research projects focus on imaging of patients with gynecological malignancies, prostate cancer, liver tumors and inflammation.
Contact: Dipl.-Phys. J. Kupferschläger, Samine Sahbai, Dr. Matthias Weissinger, Dr. Francesco Fiz, Dr. Helmut Dittmann