Aim: To assess if tumour grading based on dynamic [18F]FET positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) studies is affected by different MRI-based attenuation correction (AC) methods.
Methods: Twenty-four patients with suspected brain tumours underwent dynamic [18F]FET-PET/MRI examinations and subsequent low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans of the head. The dynamic PET data was reconstructed using the following AC methods: standard Dixon-based AC and ultra-short echo time MRI-based AC (MR-AC) and a model-based AC approach. All data were reconstructed also using CT-based AC (reference). For all lesions and reconstructions, time-activity curves (TACs) and time to peak (TTP) were extracted using different region-of-interest (ROI) and volume-of-interest (VOI) definitions. According to the most common evaluation approaches, TACs were categorised into two or three distinct curve patterns. Changes in TTP and TAC patterns compared to PET using CT-based AC were reported.
Results: In the majority of cases, TAC patterns did not change. However, TAC pattern changes as well as changes in TTP were observed in up to 8% and 17% of the cases when using different MR-AC methods and ROI/VOI definitions, respectively. However, these changes in TTP and TAC pattern were attributed to different delineations of the ROIs/VOIs in PET corrected with different AC methods.
Conclusion: PET/MRI using different MR-AC methods can be used for the assessment of TAC patterns in dynamic [18F]FET studies, as long as a meaningful delineation of the area of interest within the tumour is ensured.
Key points: • PET/MRI using different MR-AC methods can be used for dynamic [18F]FET studies. • A meaningful segmentation of the area of interest needs to be ensured, mandating a visual validation of the delineation by an experienced reader.
Keywords: Brain neoplasms; Magnet resonance imaging; Positron emission tomography; Radionuclide imaging.