Relevance of quantification in brain PET studies with 18F-FDG

Abstract

The inclusion of ¹⁸F-FDG PET as a biomarker in the diagnostic criteria of neurodegenerative diseases and its indication in the presurgical assessment for drug-resistant epilepsies allow to improve specificity of these diagnosis. The traditional interpretation of neurological PET studies has been performed qualitatively, although in the last decade, several quantitative evaluation methods have emerged. This technical development has become relevant in clinical practice, improving specificity, reproducibility and reducing the interrater reliability derived from visual analysis. In this article we update/review the main imaging processing techniques currently used. This may allow the Nuclear Medicine physician to know their advantages and disadvantages when including these procedures in daily clinical practice.

Keywords: (18)F-FDG; 18F-FDG; Brain; Cerebro; Cuantificación; Demencia; Dementia; Epilepsia; Epilepsy; PET.