Reproducibility of repeated human regional splenic blood flow measurementsusing [O-15] water and positron emission tomography

The reproducibility of measurement of regional splenic blood flow by dynami c positron emission tomography (PET) using [O-15]water was evaluated. In 19 patients, the correlation between the first and second of two serial dynam ic measurements was significant (P = 1.78 x 10(-6); r = 0.858). The regress ion equation was y = 1.06x, and the slope of the line described had a 95% c onfidence interval of 0.09. The error apparent between the two measurements was 0.129 (95% confidence interval 0.059). The results demonstrated suffic iently good reproducibility for measurements of regional splenic blood flow with PET and [O-15]water to suggest use of this method for serial measurem ents intended to detect change, including drug effects. ((C) 2001 Lippincot t Williams & Wilkins).