TY - JOUR
T1 - Kinetic modeling and parameter estimation of TSPO PET imaging in the human brain
AU - Wimberley, Catriona
AU - Lavisse, Sonia
AU - Hillmer, Ansel
AU - Hinz, Rainer
AU - Turkheimer, Federico
AU - Zanotti-Fregonara, Paolo
N1 - Funding Information:
Open access funding provided by University of Edinburgh. This work was supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health (project number ZIAMH002852). Dr. Wimberley’s current post is funded by Siemens Healthcare Ltd.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).
PY - 2021/12
Y1 - 2021/12
N2 - PURPOSE: Translocator protein 18-kDa (TSPO) imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) is widely used in research studies of brain diseases that have a neuro-immune component. Quantification of TSPO PET images, however, is associated with several challenges, such as the lack of a reference region, a genetic polymorphism affecting the affinity of the ligand for TSPO, and a strong TSPO signal in the endothelium of the brain vessels. These challenges have created an ongoing debate in the field about which type of quantification is most useful and whether there is an appropriate simplified model.METHODS: This review focuses on the quantification of TSPO radioligands in the human brain. The various methods of quantification are summarized, including the gold standard of compartmental modeling with metabolite-corrected input function as well as various alternative models and non-invasive approaches. Their advantages and drawbacks are critically assessed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Researchers employing quantification methods for TSPO should understand the advantages and limitations associated with each method. Suggestions are given to help researchers choose between these viable alternative methods.
AB - PURPOSE: Translocator protein 18-kDa (TSPO) imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) is widely used in research studies of brain diseases that have a neuro-immune component. Quantification of TSPO PET images, however, is associated with several challenges, such as the lack of a reference region, a genetic polymorphism affecting the affinity of the ligand for TSPO, and a strong TSPO signal in the endothelium of the brain vessels. These challenges have created an ongoing debate in the field about which type of quantification is most useful and whether there is an appropriate simplified model.METHODS: This review focuses on the quantification of TSPO radioligands in the human brain. The various methods of quantification are summarized, including the gold standard of compartmental modeling with metabolite-corrected input function as well as various alternative models and non-invasive approaches. Their advantages and drawbacks are critically assessed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Researchers employing quantification methods for TSPO should understand the advantages and limitations associated with each method. Suggestions are given to help researchers choose between these viable alternative methods.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85102479425&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00259-021-05248-9
DO - 10.1007/s00259-021-05248-9
M3 - Review article
C2 - 33693967
SN - 1619-7070
VL - 49
SP - 246
EP - 256
JO - European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
JF - European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
IS - 1
ER -
