Compartmental analysis is the mathematical framework for the modelling of tracer kinetics in dynamical Positron Emission Tomography. This paper provides a review of how compartmental models are constructed and numerically optimized. Specific focus is given on the identifiability and sensitivity issues and on the impact of complex physiological conditions on the mathematical properties of the models.
Keywords: 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG); Positron Emission Tomography (PET); compartmental analysis; tracer kinetics.