"Pseudo-reference-based Input Function Shape" (pRef-IFS): Towards a True image-derived input function for PET kinetic modeling.

ABSTRACT: PET absolute quantification requires the metabolite-corrected plasma input function (C_P), especially when an ideal reference region is unavailable. We propose "pseudo-Reference-based Input Function Shape" (pRef-IFS), a novel non-invasive method to estimate C_P from PET data in two steps: (1) generating the unscaled C_P shape from a pseudo-reference region (pRef) described by a one-tissue (1T) compartment model, with the pRef clearance rate k2' either estimated with simplified reference tissue models (SRTM) or assumed a priori; (2) scaling C_P with an early image-derived blood time-activity curve (ID-BTAC). We here explored the first step (assuming accurate step-2 scaling), evaluating the impact of violating

SUBMITTER: Volpi T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12811094 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature