A challenge study of texture analysis for FDG-PET in oncology: A phantom preparation and the assessment of variability toward the standardization

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K17154
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 52040:Radiological sciences-related
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University (2020); Hokkaido Cancer Center(Department of Clinical Research) (2019)
• Principal Investigator: Kitao Tomoka (北尾友香) 北海道大学, 医学研究院, 客員研究員 (60838142)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: PET/CT / FDG-PET / Texture Analysis / 不均一 / 悪性腫瘍 / 画像解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) has been an essential tool in oncology imaging. The first aim of this study is to create a heterogeneous tumor phantom to investigate the usefulness of texture analysis and to compare textural features from multiple PET scanners toward the standardization of a large number of textural features. In addition, the phantom tests were applied using the NEMA IEC body phantom inserted the heterogeneous tumoral sphere by multiple PET scanners such as a photomultiplier tube (PMT)-based PET scanner and a digital PET scanner, and the variability of the features were evaluated.

Free Research Field

放射線科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

FDG-PET検査における画像評価では、従来から、maximum of standardized uptake value(SUVmax)という指標が多く用いられているが、PET装置の機種や画質による変動が大きいと言われており、患者フォローアップや多施設研究を行うにあたり、その定量値の標準化が問題となっている。腫瘍評価においては、非侵襲的に腫瘍の性質を捉えることが期待されるテクスチャ解析においても、その変動は無視できないと考えらえる。テクスチャ解析の有用性は徐々に報告されつつあるが、その特徴値をより堅牢なものにし、有用性の確立とコンピュータ支援診断に向けての一助となると考える。