A Study on Matched Errors between PET and CT Images in PET/CT Examination According to Breathing Protocols

PET/CT 검사에서 호흡법에 따른 PET과 CT 영상의 정합오차

Purpose : This study evaluated the effects of breathing protocols on matching results of PET and CT images using two breathing protocols such as free breathing and acquisition in holding the breathing after the normal expiration in acquiring CT images. Materials and Methods: Whole body FDG PET and CT images of 200 patients (mean age: 58 (range 20~84), 103 males and 97 females) using Discovery VCT (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, USA). When taking CT images, subjects were asked to breathe freely (free breathing, n=100) or hold the breathing after the normal expiration (Hold, n=100). In the whole body image coronal section where PET and CT were matched, the matched error of the boundary between diaphragm and liver was measured in length. The matched errors were compared according to breathing protocol by age, sex and disease. The verification of statistical significance was made by SPSS 15.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) via one way ANOVA. Results: The matched error in all was 0.87 mm. According to breathing protocol, there was no significant difference in matched error as1.01 mm in free breathing and as 0.73 mm in hold breathing (p=.688). The matched error according to sex did not show significant difference as 1.08 mm of males, and 0.93 mm of females in free breathing (p=.517). In hold breathing, there was no significant difference as 0.79 mm of males and 0.66 mm of females (p=.738). There was no significant difference in matched error by age between free breathing and hold breathing (free breathing (p=.728), hold (p=.465). There was no significant difference in matched error by disease between free breathing and hold breathing (free breathing (p=.197), hold (p=.518) Conclusion: The difference in matched error between free breathing and hold breathing was less than 5 mm at 99%. There was no statistically significant difference in matched error by breathing protocol, age and disease. It was proved that there was no difference in matched error between PET and CT images according to breathing protocol during PET/CT scan.

PET/CT 검사에서 피검자의 호흡에 의한 움직임은 PET과 CT의 정합오차를 유발하여 영상의 질 저하와 판독의 정확도를 떨어뜨리는 원인이 된다. PET/CT 검사에서 CT 영상 획득 시 자유호흡과 호기 시 잠시 멈춤 상태에서 획득하는 두 가지 호흡법을 이용하여 각 호흡법이 PET과 CT 영상의 정합결과에 끼치는 영향을 평가하였다. 환자 200명을 대상으로 두 집단으로 나누어 CT 영상 획득 시 평소대로 호흡하거나 호기 시 멈추도록 지도하였다. PET과 CT가 정합된 전신영상 관상단면에서 횡경막-간 경계의 정합오차를 길이로 측정하였으며 각 호흡법에 따른 성별, 연령, 상병의 정합오차를 비교하였다. 자유호흡과 호기 시 잠시 멈춤 상태에서 정합오차의 차이는 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 없었으며 호흡법에 따른 정합차이가 99%이상이 5 mm이하였다. 호흡법, 연령, 상병에 따른 정합오차의 차이가 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 없었다. 본 연구를 통하여 PET/CT 검사시 호흡법에 의한 PET와 CT영상의 정합차이가 없음을 증명하였다. 호흡에 의한 motion artifact를 줄이기 위해서는 더 많은 연구가 진행되어야 할 것이다.