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J Ikezoe

Publications and source records attributed to J Ikezoe.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Two- and three-dimensional CT ventriculography: a new application of helical CT.

OBJECTIVE: We propose a new application of helical CT, CT ventriculography, which can produce two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) images of different cardiac phases (plus animation). We sought to determine the accuracy of CT ventriculography for assessing left ventricular volumes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: With a single breath-hold, the patient's entire heart was scanned with an ECG-gating technique (3-mm-thick collimation, 2 mm per rotation table speed, 0.8 sec per rotation, and 50 rotations through 10 cm in total). Using a 0.2-mm (0.08-sec) interval (10 slices per rotation) overlapping reconstruction, about 500 axial slices were obtained and reordered to separate different cardiac cycles. Then, 2D cardiac axes and 3D images were reconstructed and animated movies of the 2D and 3D images were produced. In 21 patients, the left ventricular end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, and ejection fraction were assessed and compared with left ventriculography. Correlations and agreements between CT and left ventriculography were determined. RESULTS: Close correlations between CT and left ventriculography were obtained (r = 0.95, 0.98, and 0.91, for end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, and left ventricular ejection fraction, respectively; p < 0.0001 for all values). The limits of agreement between CT and left ventriculography were 44.3 to -44.5 ml for end-diastolic volume, 19.8 to -29.0 ml for end-systolic volume, and 19.7% to -9.5% for left ventricular ejection fraction. CONCLUSION: This cardiac application of helical CT provides a clear morphology along the cardiac axes and 3D images and an assessment of left ventricular volumes (end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, and left ventricular ejection fraction).

Adult↗

Quantitative analysis of technegas SPECT: evaluation of regional severity of emphysema.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to quantify the regional severity of emphysema by 3-dimensional fractal analysis of technegas (99mTc-carbon particle radioaerosol) SPECT images. METHODS: Technegas SPECT was performed on 22 patients with emphysema. The lungs were delineated using 4 cutoff levels (15%, 20%, 25%, and 30% of the maximal pixel radioactivity), and the total number of pixels was measured in the areas surrounded by the contours obtained with each cutoff level. We calculated fractal dimensions from the relationship between the total number of pixels and cutoff levels transformed into logarithms. Fractal dimension for total or regional lung was defined as the severity of emphysema. RESULTS: Total lung fractal dimension (T-FD), upper lung fractal dimension (U-FD), and lower lung fractal dimension (L-FD) for patients with emphysema were 1.84 +/- 0.46 (mean +/-SD), 2.22 +/- 0.61, and 1.77 +/- 0.49, respectively. U-FD was significantly greater than was L-FD. Patients with the ratio of U-FD to L-FD of <1.16 had a significantly greater percentage forced vital capacity (FVC) than did patients with the ratio of >1.16. Patients with an L-FD of <1.8 had a significantly greater forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/FVC than did patients with that of >1.8. No significant difference was found between patient groups stratified by U-FD. CONCLUSION: The regional severity of emphysema was well shown by these fractal dimensions.

Female↗

An alternative approach to estimation of the brain perfusion index for measurement of cerebral blood flow using technetium-99m compounds.

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) has been quantified non-invasively using the brain perfusion index (BPI) determined from radionuclide angiographic data generated by technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime( )((99m)Tc-HMPAO) or technetium-99m ethyl cysteinate dimer( )((99m)Tc-ECD). The BPI is generally calculated using graphical analysis (GA). In the present study, BPI was measured using spectral analysis (SA), and its usefulness evaluated in comparison with GA. The BPI was calculated from the sum of spectral data obtained by SA. We applied this method to radionuclide angiographic data collected from the bilateral brain hemispheres of 20 patients with various brain diseases using (99m)Tc-HMPAO and from those of 20 patients using (99m)Tc-ECD. We also measured BPI using GA. The BPI values obtained by SA (BPI(S)) (x) and by GA (BPI(G)) (y) correlated closely (y=0.708x+0.038, r=0.945 for (99m)Tc-HMPAO and y=0.559x+0.093, r=0.931 for (99m)Tc-ECD). However, the BPI(G) values were underestimated by 22.9%+/-6.6% (mean+/-SD) for (99m)Tc-HMPAO and by 27.9%+/-7.5% for (99m)Tc-ECD as compared with the BPI(S) values. The extent of underestimation tended to increase with increasing BPI(S) values. These findings were considered to be a result of the BPI(G) values being affected by the first-pass extraction fraction of the tracer. We also compared the BPI(S) and BPI(G) values with those of CBF measured using N-isopropyl-p-[(123)I]iodoamphetamine (CBF(IMP)) in 16 patients (six for (99m)Tc-HMPAO and ten for (99m)Tc-ECD). Although both BPI(S) and BPI(G) values correlated significantly with the CBF(IMP) values, the correlation coefficient in BPI(S) was always better than that in BPI(G) (r=0.869 for (99m)Tc-HMPAO and r=0.929 for (99m)Tc-ECD in BPI(S), r=0.629 for (99m)Tc-HMPAO and r=0.856 for (99m)Tc-ECD in BPI(G)). These results suggest that SA can provide a more reliable BPI for quantifying CBF using (99m)Tc-HMPAO or (99m)Tc-ECD than the conventional method using GA. Our method will be useful especially when using a tracer with a low first-pass extraction fraction and/or when performing activation studies using pharmacological intervention.

Aged↗

Kinetic parameter estimation from compartment models using a genetic algorithm.

Kinetic parameters were estimated from a three-compartment fluorodeoxyglucose model with three rate constants using a genetic algorithm. The performance of the genetic algorithm was investigated by simulation studies, in which brain time-activity data (TAD) were generated using cited mean values of rate constants and the plasma TAD obtained from positron emission tomographic studies. The accuracy of kinetic parameter estimation using the genetic algorithm was compared with that using the non-linear least-squares (NLSQ) method. The margin of error in the parameters estimated using the genetic algorithm tended to be smaller than that obtained by the NLSQ method. Although not statistically significant at a noise level of 5% in the brain TAD, the difference between the two methods became significant for all parameters at a noise level of 15% or higher. Our results suggest that the genetic algorithm is a promising means of estimating kinetic parameters from compartment models, because it is more robust against statistical noise than the NLSQ method and it can be rendered highly parallel for processing.

Algorithms↗

Hepatic extraction fraction of hepatobiliary radiopharmaceuticals measured using spectral analysis.

Measuring the hepatic extraction fraction (HEF) of a hepatobiliary radiopharmaceutical helps to differentiate hepatocyte from biliary tract diseases, and it is generally performed using deconvolution analysis. In this study, we measured HEF using spectral analysis. With spectral analysis, HEF was calculated from (the sum of the spectral data obtained by spectral analysis--the highest frequency component of the spectrum) divided by (the sum of the spectral data) x 100 (%). We applied this method to dynamic liver scintigraphic data obtained from six healthy volunteers and from 46 patients with various liver diseases, using 99Tcm-N-pyridoxyl-5-methyltryptophan (PMT). We also measured HEF using deconvolution analysis, in which the modified Fourier transform technique was employed. The HEF values obtained by spectral analysis correlated closely with those obtained by deconvolution analysis (r = 0.925), suggesting our method is valid. The HEF values obtained by spectral analysis decreased as the severity of liver disease progressed. The values were 100.0 +/- 0.0%, 94.7 +/- 13.6%, 76.2 +/- 27.4%, 45.7 +/- 15.6%, 82.7 +/- 24.2% and 95.2 +/- 11.8% (mean +/- S.D.) for the normal controls (n = 6), mild liver cirrhosis (n = 16), moderate liver cirrhosis (n = 11), severe liver cirrhosis (n = 5), acute hepatitis (n = 8) and chronic hepatitis groups (n = 6), respectively. The HEF was obtained more simply and rapidly by spectral analysis than by deconvolution analysis. The results suggest that our method using spectral analysis can be used as an alternative to the conventional procedure using deconvolution analysis for measuring HEF.

Aged↗

Crazy-paving appearance at thin-section CT: spectrum of disease and pathologic findings.

PURPOSE: To determine the spectrum of disease associated with a fine reticular pattern superimposed on areas of ground-glass opacity (i.e., "crazy-paving" appearance) at thin-section computed tomography (CT) and to determine the underlying pathologic features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the in vivo study, the cases of 46 patients (21 male, 25 female; age range, 13-82 years) were retrospectively reviewed, with special attention paid to the size and extent of the reticular network. In the in vitro study, the thin-section CT findings in 20 inflated and fixed lungs were precisely correlated with the gross appearance, contact radiograph findings, stereomicroscopic views, and histologic findings. RESULTS: In the in vivo study, 15 different diseases were identified, including alveolar proteinosis, adult respiratory distress syndrome, acute interstitial pneumonia, diffuse alveolar damage superimposed on usual interstitial pneumonia, and drug-induced pneumonitis. In the in vitro study, the fine networks at pathologic analysis were due to an alveolar filling process (n = 10), an interstitial fibrotic process (n = 7), or a combination of interstitial and intraalveolar processes (n = 3). Twelve (60%) cases did not have thickening of the interlobular septa within the areas of the crazy-paving appearance. CONCLUSION: The crazy-paving appearance is a nonspecific finding seen in a variety of interstitial and airspace lung diseases.

Female↗

[Estimation of integral of input function for quantification of cerebral blood flow with N-isopropyl-p-[123I]iodoamphetamine using one-point venous blood sampling].

The present study was designed to investigate a possibility of substitution of the venous blood radioactivity counts sampled 26 min post injection for the octanol-extracted arterial blood radioactivity counts obtained at 5 min after the injection of N-isopropyl-p-[123I]iodoamphetamine (123I-IMP). Furthermore, we investigated whether the integral of input function can be estimated from the venous blood radioactivity counts sampled 26 min post injection and the whole-brain time-activity curves early after 123I-IMP injection. There was a good correlation between the arterial blood radioactivity counts sampled 5 min post injection (y) and those obtained at 26 min (r = 0.902; n = 91; y = 2.348x - 867.063). There was also a good correlation between the arterial (x) and venous blood radioactivity counts (y) sampled 26 min post injection (r = 0.954; n = 14; y = 0.761x + 924.336). The venous blood radioactivity counts sampled at 26 min (x) correlated well with the octanol-extracted arterial blood radioactivity counts sampled at 5 min (y) (r = 0.964; n = 32; y = 0.173x - 21.598). There was a good correlation between the integrals of input function obtained from the regression equation obtained above and the whole-brain time-activity curves acquired during 7 min post injection (y) and those obtained by 5-min continuous arterial blood sampling (x) (r = 0.965; n = 41; y = 0.957x + 2665.208). These results indicate that this noninvasive and simple method can estimate the integral of input function for quantification of cerebral blood flow using 123I-IMP.

Aged↗

Prognostic value of dipyridamole-thallium myocardial scintigraphy in patients with Kawasaki disease.

BACKGROUND: Although coronary artery lesions are critical complications of Kawasaki disease, their long-term outcome is still unclear. It is sometimes difficult to monitor progressive changes from aneurysms to stenotic lesions because coronary angiography (CAG) cannot be repeated very often, especially in infants. Our prospective study was designed to evaluate the prognostic value of dipyridamole-thallium single-photon-emission CT (SPECT) in the long-term follow-up of patients with Kawasaki disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Of 459 consecutive patients with Kawasaki disease, coronary aneurysms were detected in 90 cases by echocardiography during the acute stage. After paired studies of selective CAG and SPECT were conducted, all patients were followed up and monitored for the occurrence of any cardiac events for > or =8 years. During the follow-up interval, there were 15 cardiac events (1 death, 5 infarctions, 2 coronary artery bypass graft operations, and 7 occurrences of unstable angina). Of patients who had some event, thallium redistribution was found on SPECT in 14 (93%, P<0.001). Of the various clinical and scintigraphic image variables, the presence of thallium redistribution was the best multivariate independent predictor of a late cardiac event (chi2=57.8, P<0.0001). The number of aneurysms detected on CAG added minimal statistical improvement to the model (chi2=1.9, P=0.0009). CONCLUSIONS: Dipyridamole-thallium SPECT is safely performed and is useful and important for risk stratification in the long-term follow-up of patients with Kawasaki disease.

Age of Onset↗

Spectral analysis applied to dynamic single photon emission computed tomography studies with N-isopropyl-p-(123I)iodoamphetamine.

This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of spectral analysis (SA) applied to dynamic single photon emission computed tomography studies with N-isopropyl-p-(123I)iodoamphetamine (IMP). The unidirectional clearance of IMP from the blood to the brain tissue (K1) obtained by SA (y (ml/g/min)) agreed well with that obtained from a two-compartment model using the nonlinear least-squares (NLSQ) method (x (ml/g/min)) (y = 0.994x + 0.003, r = 0.999, standard error of the estimate (SEE) = 0.005 ml/g/min). The rate constant for back diffusion of IMP from the brain tissue to the blood (k2) obtained by SA (y (min(-1))) also agreed well with that obtained by the NLSQ method (x (min(-1))) (y = 0.985x + 0.000, r = 0.948, SEE = 0.001 min(-1)). The brain vascular volume (V0) obtained by SA (y (ml/g)) correlated well with that obtained by the NLSQ method (x (ml/g)) (y = 1.138x + 0.000, r = 0.867, SEE = 0.012 ml/g). These results indicate that SA is applicable and useful for quantification of the kinetic parameters of IMP in the human brain, and can be an alternative approach to compartment analysis.

Amphetamines↗

A simplified method for the quantitative analysis of 99Tc(m)-GSA liver scintigraphy using spectral analysis.

The aim of this study was to develop a simplified method for quantitative analysis of liver scintigraphy with 99Tc(m)-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-galactosyl-human serum albumin (GSA) using spectral analysis. Dynamic liver scintigraphy using GSA was performed in three normal volunteers and 19 patients with chronic liver disease. Dynamic data were obtained with a gamma camera for 30 min after the injection of approximately 185 MBq GSA. The rate constant for the liver uptake of GSA from the blood (Ku, min(-1)), total excretion rate (Ke, min(-1)) and non-specific volume of distribution (Vh) were obtained by spectral analysis. Vh was defined as the volume in the liver region of interest (ROI) occupied by GSA which was in equilibrium with that in the blood. It should be noted that Vh had no units, since the counts in both the liver and heart ROIs were normalized by scan length to obtain counts pixel(-1) min(-). For comparison, compartmental analysis was also performed. A receptor index (LHL15) was calculated by dividing the radioactivity of the liver ROI by that of the liver plus heart ROIs 15 min post-injection. The Ku values obtained by spectral analysis (y) agreed well with those obtained by compartmental analysis (x) (y = 0.953x - 0.013, r = 0.992, S.E.E. = 0.016 min(-1)). The Ke and Vh values obtained by spectral analysis (y) correlated significantly with those obtained by compartmental analysis (x) (y = 1.149x - 0.016, r = 0.826, S.E.E. = 0.017 min(-1) for Ke; y = 1.191x + 0.044, r = 0.975, S.E.E. = 0.021 for Vh). The Ku values obtained by spectral analysis decreased as the severity of liver disease progressed, and were non-linearly related to the LHL15 values, suggesting that Ku is more sensitive to liver damage than LHL15, especially in the early stages of liver damage. These results suggest that spectral analysis applied to dynamic liver scintigraphy with GSA provides a simple, non-invasive and useful tool for the quantitative evaluation of liver function.

Hepatitis↗

A method for estimating the integral of the input function for the quantification of cerebral blood flow with 123I-IMP using one-point arterial blood sampling.

We have developed a new method to replace the conventional method of quantitatively measuring cerebral blood flow (CBF), in which octanol-extracted radioactivity counts are measured in continuous arterial blood samples. With the new method, the whole-brain time-activity curves early after the intravenous injection of N-isopropyl-p-[123I]iodoamphetamine were first obtained by the least-squares curve-fitting method. The equation thus obtained was differentiated and the radioactivity counts were corrected by the 5-min octanol-extracted radioactivity counts of the arterial blood sample obtained at a single time point. In the present study, the value obtained by integrating the equation from 0 to 5 min, which was obtained by curve-fitting, was compared with the octanol-extracted radioactivity counts obtained by 5-min continuous arterial blood sampling in 160 patients with cerebrovascular disorders. The results showed good agreement between the values obtained by the two procedures (y = 1.049x - 1522.4; r = 0.987). Using the CBF obtained by the 5-min continuous arterial blood sampling as the standard, the errors using the present integral values of the input function were 7.1 +/- 4.9%. Measurements of the integral of the input function by the present one-point arterial blood sampling method has the potential for use in the routine measurement of CBF, because it is less invasive and more convenient than the conventional method, and it is unaffected by cardiopulmonary disease or smoking.

Arteries↗

Quantitative analysis of pulmonary emphysema: three-dimensional fractal analysis of single-photon emission computed tomography images obtained with a carbon particle radioaerosol.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to quantify the heterogeneous distribution of a carbon particle radioaerosol in the lungs of patients with pulmonary emphysema using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and fractal analysis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Ventilation SPECT was performed on 19 patients with pulmonary emphysema, seven patients with suspected pulmonary emphysema, and 14 healthy volunteers. We delineated the lungs using five cutoff levels (15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, and 35% of the maximal pixel radioactivity) and measured the total number of pixels in the areas surrounded by the contours obtained with each cutoff level. We calculated fractal dimensions from the relationship between the total number of pixels and cutoff levels transformed into logarithms. RESULTS: The fractal dimensions increased with the severity of pulmonary emphysema. The fractal dimensions for patients with pulmonary emphysema, patients with suspected pulmonary emphysema, and healthy volunteers were 2.03+/-0.61 (mean +/- SD), 0.77+/-0.09, and 0.59+/-0.06, respectively. A significant difference (p < .0005) in the fractal dimension was found when any of these three groups was compared with any other group of subjects. CONCLUSION: Three-dimensional quantitative evaluation of the emphysematous lung was possible using SPECT and fractal analysis. Our results suggest that fractal analysis can quantify the heterogeneity of the distribution of a carbon particle radioaerosol in the lung. Fractal analysis appears to be applicable for routine clinical use because it is simple and the fractal dimensions can be obtained easily without using special software.

Aged↗

[Clinical usefulness of 201Tl-chloride scintigraphy for the evaluation of metastatic bone lesions].

201Tl-Chloride scintigraphy (early and delayed images) was performed in 40 patients with suspected metastatic bone lesions. The sensitivity and specificity of 201Tl scanning for detecting metastatic bone lesions were 66.7% and 77.4%, respectively. The uptake ratio of 201Tl per voxel of the lesions to the normal site was significantly different between the metastatic bone lesion and benign lesions. In 20 sites of 15 patients, 201Tl-Chloride scintigraphy was performed before and after radio- or radiothermotherapy. There was a significant difference in the mean uptake ratios in the early and delayed scans between before and after therapy. The mechanism of intracellular uptake of 201Tl is considered to be one of active transport, which might make 201Tl an accurate indicator of the viability of tumor cells and metabolic activity as long as there is sufficient blood flow to prompty transport 201Tl to tumor cells. Thus it would seem that decreased uptake of 201Tl and change in retention index after therapy depends partially on tumor blood flow. In conclusion, 201Tl-Chloride scintigraphy is very useful not only for clinically detecting metastatic bone lesions but also for assessing the therapeutic effects.

Aged↗

[Estimation of integral value of input function for the quantification of cerebral blood flow with 123I-IMP using one-point arterial blood sampling].

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) has been measured using a microsphere model with octanol-extracted radioactivity counts (integral value of input function). We developed a new method estimating the integral value of input function. First, we fitted the whole brain time-activity curves early after intravenous injection of N-isopropyl-p-[123I]iodoamphetamine (123I-IMP) by the least-squares method. Second, we differentiated this equation. Third, we calibrated it using octanol-extracted radioactivity counts of the arterial blood sampled at 5 min. Finally, we integrated it. A significant correlation was found between the integral values obtained using a new method and those obtained using the continuous arterial blood sampling data (y = 1.048x-1206, r = 0.984). The errors between the CBF values obtained using a new method and those obtained using the 5-min continuous arterial blood sampling was 6.88 +/- 4.78%. Measurement of integral values of the input function using a new method with one-point arterial blood sampling is less invasive and convenient, and is not influenced by cardiopulmonary disease or smoking. Therefore, it would be useful for the routine measurement of CBF.

Amphetamines↗