Patient-specific arterial input function for accurate perfusion assessment in intraoperative fluorescence imaging

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering
• Pharmacokinetics

Background:

• The arterial input function (AIF) is critical for correcting contrast agent concentration in dynamic contrast-enhanced fluorescence imaging (DCE-FI).
• Accurate AIF is essential for reliable tissue vascular perfusion assessment, especially considering patient-specific injection variations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the arterial input function (AIF) on perfusion assessment accuracy in DCE-FI.
• To compare the effectiveness of individual versus population-based AIF correction.

Main Methods:

• Acquired 144 AIFs from 110 patients using a pulse dye densitometer.
• Conducted simulations and intraoperative imaging to validate AIF significance.
• Assessed kinetic parameter variability using individual AIF versus population-based AIF.

Main Results:

• Individual AIF significantly reduced variability in kinetic parameters compared to population-based AIF.
• Population-based AIF showed lower differences for estimating wash-out rate and maximum intensity than for blood flow or transfer constants.
• Individual AIF provided the most accurate perfusion assessment.

Conclusions:

• Individual AIF is superior for accurate perfusion assessment in DCE-FI.
• Individual AIF minimizes kinetic parameter variability, enhancing diagnostic reliability.
• Population-based AIF offers a potential alternative for specific parameter estimations.