Data-driven image-based protocol for brain PET image harmonization

Štokelj, Eva (avtor), Simončič, Urban (avtor)

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.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: medical physics, medical imaging, positron emission tomography, brain imaging
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: FMF - Fakulteta za matematiko in fiziko
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2025
• Št. strani: 17 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 25, iss. 13, art. no. 4230
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-170976
• UDK: 616-073:53
• ISSN pri članku: 1424-8220
• DOI: 10.3390/s25134230
• COBISS.SI-ID: 243679491
• Datum objave v RUL: 24.07.2025

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Sensors
• Skrajšan naslov: Sensors
• Založnik: MDPI
• ISSN: 1424-8220
• COBISS.SI-ID: 10176278

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: medicinska fizika, medicinsko slikanje, FDG-PET, slikanje možganov

Projekti

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P1-0389
• Naslov: Medicinska fizika