Dynamic cardiac SPECT computer simulations for teboroxime kinetics

A series of computer simulations was performed to examine the effect that each of seven factors have on the accuracy of the kinetic parameters (k₂₁ and k₁₂) of teboroxime (a ^99m Tc-labeled heart perfusion agent). The parameters k₂₁ and k₁₂ can be estimated using dynamic SPECT imaging and tracer kinetic modeling. The factors investigated were: (1) projection/reconstruction process of a time-varying tracer, (2) cardiac motion, (3) temporal resolution of the images, (4) attenuation effects, (5) emission statistics, (6) correlation of estimated parameters, and (7) decreased extraction fraction of teboroxime over time. The results showed that factors (3) and (6) affected only the %RMS error of the estimated parameters k₂₁ and k₁₂ and that the smallest error can be obtained by: using 5 second temporal resolution and selecting tissue ROIs which contain the least amount of intraventricular blood. Factors (2), (4), (5), and (7) significantly affected the accuracy of either k₂₁ or k₁₂ and efforts should be made in the future to either model or correct for these factors