Reliability of one-point blood sampling method for calculating input function in Na18F PET

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Medicine
• Radiochemistry
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Quantitative Sodium-18F (Na18F) positron emission tomography (PET) traditionally requires extensive arterial blood sampling for accurate input function determination.
• These conventional methods are invasive, complex, and time-consuming, limiting clinical applicability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a simplified, reliable technique for obtaining the input function in Na18F PET studies.
• To replace invasive multiple arterial blood sampling with a less burdensome procedure.

Main Methods:

• Performed multiple arterial blood sampling on 12 participants to identify optimal single-point sampling time.
• Determined optimal sampling time by maximizing correlation with real integrated values and minimizing coefficient of variation.
• Developed scaling factors and a reference table for estimating plasma radioactivity and the input function.

Main Results:

• The optimal time for single-point sampling was identified as 12 minutes post-intravenous Na18F injection.
• The input function estimated using 12-minute arterial blood sampling and the reference table showed high correlation with the actual integrated value (P<0.001).
• Percentage errors for the integrated value estimation were low: 2.63% for arterial blood at 12 minutes and 4.14% for venous blood at 30 minutes.

Conclusions:

• The developed simplified method for input function determination is clinically applicable.
• This technique offers a viable alternative to traditional, multi-sample arterial blood collection methods in Na18F PET.
• The simplified approach enhances the feasibility of quantitative Na18F PET imaging.