BACKGROUND: ¹²³I-FP-CIT (DaTSCAN) SPECT studies of the nigrostriatal pathway are a valuable tool in the diagnosis of movement disorders. However some scans are reported as equivocal with potential adverse consequences. We investigated whether the use of quantification of tracer uptake within the striatum can be used to reduce the number of equivocal reports. MATERIAL AND METHODS: BRASS software (Hermes, Sweden) was used to quantify striatal tracer uptake in DaTSCAN studies of patients referred to our institution. Scans were quantified and numerical limits were determined to distinguish between normal and abnormal scans. Scans were then re-reported both with, and without, the use of quantification. Number of equivocal reports and accuracy of reporting between the two types of reporting were compared. RESULTS: Scan reporting using quantification led to a significant reduction in the number of equivocal reports with no significant change in reporting accuracy. CONCLUSION: Automated quantification of DaTSCAN studies with BRASS and the use of numerical limits can decrease the number of equivocal reports without affecting report accuracy.
BACKGROUND: ¹²³I-FP-CIT (DaTSCAN) SPECT studies of the nigrostriatal pathway are a valuable tool in the diagnosis of movement disorders. However some scans are reported as equivocal with potential adverse consequences. We investigated whether the use of quantification of tracer uptake within the striatum can be used to reduce the number of equivocal reports. MATERIAL AND METHODS: BRASS software (Hermes, Sweden) was used to quantify striatal tracer uptake in DaTSCAN studies of patients referred to our institution. Scans were quantified and numerical limits were determined to distinguish between normal and abnormal scans. Scans were then re-reported both with, and without, the use of quantification. Number of equivocal reports and accuracy of reporting between the two types of reporting were compared. RESULTS: Scan reporting using quantification led to a significant reduction in the number of equivocal reports with no significant change in reporting accuracy. CONCLUSION: Automated quantification of DaTSCAN studies with BRASS and the use of numerical limits can decrease the number of equivocal reports without affecting report accuracy.
Authors: Elina Mäkinen; Juho Joutsa; Jarkko Johansson; Maija Mäki; Marko Seppänen; Valtteri Kaasinen Journal: J Neural Transm (Vienna) Date: 2016-06-20 Impact factor: 3.575
Authors: Enrico Premi; V D Calhoun; V Garibotto; R Turrone; A Alberici; E Cottini; A Pilotto; S Gazzina; M Magoni; B Paghera; B Borroni; A Padovani Journal: Mol Imaging Biol Date: 2017-10 Impact factor: 3.488
Authors: Jonathan Christopher Taylor; Charles Romanowski; Eleanor Lorenz; Christine Lo; Oliver Bandmann; John Fenner Journal: EJNMMI Res Date: 2018-05-08 Impact factor: 3.138