Statistical parametric maps of 18F-FDG PET and 3-D autoradiography in the rat brain: a cross-validation study

• DOI: 10.1007/s00259-011-1905-y
• Publication Date: 2011-08-26T07:01:43Z
• Authors: Elena Prieto; María Collantes; Mercedes Delgado; Carlos Juri; Luis García-García; Francisco Molinet; María E. Fernánde...; Miguel A. Pozo; Belén Gago; Josep M. Martí-Cl...; José A. Obeso; Iván Peñuelas
• Keywords: Statistical parametric mapping

Purpose Although specific positron emission tomography (PET) scanners have been developed for small animals, spatial resolution remains one of the most critical technical limitations, particularly in the evaluation of the rodent brain. The purpose of the present study was to examine the reliability of voxel-based statistical analysis (Statistical Parametric Mapping, SPM) applied to 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET images of the rat brain, acquired on a small animal PET not specifically designed for rodents. The gold standard for the validation of the PET results was the autoradiography of the same animals acquired under the same physiological conditions, reconstructed as a 3-D volume and analysed using SPM.