20.500.12556/RUL-170976 Data-driven image-based protocol for brain PET image harmonization Quantitative FDG-PET brain imaging across multiple centers is challenged by inter-scanner variability, impacting the comparability of neuroimaging data. This study proposes a data-driven image-based harmonization protocol to address these discrepancies without relying on traditional phantom scans. The protocol uses spatially normalized FDG-PET brain images to estimate scanner-specific Gaussian smoothing filters, optimizing parameters via the structural similarity index (SSIM). Validation was performed using images from cognitively normal individuals and Alzheimer’s disease patients from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database. Results demonstrated robust harmonization at moderate target resolutions (8 and 10 mm FWHM), with filter estimates consistently within 1.2 mm of phantom-derived ground truths. However, at higher resolutions (6 mm FWHM), discrepancies reached up to 3 mm, reflecting reduced accuracy. These deviations were particularly evident for high-resolution scanners like HRRT, likely due to elevated noise levels and smaller sample sizes. The presented harmonization method effectively reduces inter-scanner variability in retrospective FDG-PET studies, especially valuable when phantom scans are unavailable. Nonetheless, the current limitations at finer resolutions underline the necessity for methodological refinements to meet the demands of evolving high-resolution PET imaging technologies. medical physics medical imaging positron emission tomography brain imaging medicinska fizika medicinsko slikanje FDG-PET slikanje možganov true false true Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik Članek v reviji 2025-07-24 10:32:51 2025-07-24 10:32:52 2025-07-25 04:07:35 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2025 0 0 17 str. iss. 13, art. no. 4230 Vol. 25 Jul. 2025 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 616-073:53 1424-8220 10.3390/s25134230 243679491 sensors-25-04230.pdf sensors-25-04230.pdf 1 CF9FB7AF5AAE083256EA418B942B4F30 c52abc798110a080862de6dbd4b03f72bafd9eaf8923a7c70dca56679ac4e2e3 06fae669-6869-11f0-9328-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=213282 https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/13/4230 0 0e37aae3-6869-11f0-9328-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=213283 Fakulteta za matematiko in fiziko 0 0 0