OPERATOR-LESS PROCESSING OF MYOCARDIAL PERFUSION SPECT STUDIES

We have developed a completely automated algorithm to generate reorien ted tomographic images from projections in myocardial perfusion SPECT. Methods: The algorithm consists of three software modules. The first module determines reconstruction limits for the projection dataset usi ng two-dimensional feature extraction techniques. The second module re constructs the projection images into transaxial images using standard filtered backprojection. The third module reorients the transaxial im ages into short-axis images. Results: The algorithm was validated on 3 50 rest (TI)-T-201 and 350 stress Tc-99m-sestamibi studies acquired on a single-detector (178 studies), a 90 degrees dual-detector (230 stud ies) or a triple-detector camera (292 studies). The complete processin g sequence was successful in 93.6% of the studies (166/178 + 216/230 273/292). As for the individual modules, myocardial boundaries were c orrectly determined in 96.3% of the studies (171/178 + 222/230 + 281/2 92), while reorientation was successful in 97.2% of the studies (166/1 71 + 216/222 + 273/281). No significant difference in success rates fo r (TI)-T-201 versus Tc-99m-sestamibi images was found. Conclusion: Our automated approach to myocardial perfusion SPECT processing is highly successful, intrinsically reproducible and can produce time and cost savings while improving accuracy in a clinical or research environment .