Kinetic modelling with total body PET - current status and future applications
Beverley F Holman1, Neil Davis1, Adnan Chowdhury1
1Department of Nuclear Medicine, Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, London, NW3 2QG.
The British Journal of Radiology
|June 4, 2026
Summary
Long axial field-of-view (LAFOV) PET/CT enables whole-body kinetic modeling, moving beyond regional analysis. This advanced imaging offers accurate, multi-organ quantification for diverse research and clinical applications.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Medicine
- Medical Imaging
- Quantitative Analysis
Background:
- Dynamic PET studies were historically limited to single organs due to short axial coverage and low sensitivity, requiring invasive arterial sampling.
- Static SUV-based imaging lacks the physiological detail provided by kinetic analysis for tracer transport, metabolism, and receptor binding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the transformative impact of total-body and LAFOV PET/CT systems on kinetic modeling.
- To showcase LAFOV PET's ability to enable simultaneous multi-organ dynamic acquisitions and image-derived input functions.
- To discuss the expanding applications and future potential of LAFOV PET kinetic modeling in clinical practice.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing long axial field-of-view (LAFOV) PET scanners with extended axial coverage (up to 2m) and increased sensitivity (>10-fold).
- Performing simultaneous multi-organ dynamic acquisitions in a single bed position.
- Employing AI-driven methods for scan duration reduction, improved parametric image generation, and motion correction.
Main Results:
- LAFOV PET facilitates image-derived input functions, shortened protocols, and ultra-low-dose imaging with maintained quantitative accuracy.
- Enabled simultaneous dynamic acquisitions across multiple organs, overcoming previous limitations.
- Demonstrated broad applicability in oncology, neurology, cardiology, infection, inflammation, and systemic physiology research.
Conclusions:
- LAFOV PET kinetic modeling represents a paradigm shift towards comprehensive, whole-body quantitative imaging in nuclear medicine.
- Advances position LAFOV PET kinetic modeling as a clinically viable technique, with future integration into routine practice for precision diagnostics and monitoring.
- LAFOV PET enhances quantitative accuracy, reduces scan time, and expands the scope of dynamic PET studies.
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