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Scientific article
Open access
English

Deep learning-guided attenuation correction in the image domain for myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging

Published inJournal of computational design and engineering, vol. 9, no. 2, p. 434-447
Publication date2022-04-12
First online date2022-03-12
Abstract

We investigate the accuracy of direct attenuation correction (AC) in the image domain for myocardial perfusion SPECT (single-photon emission computed tomography) imaging (MPI-SPECT) using residual (ResNet) and UNet deep convolutional neural networks. MPI-SPECT 99mTc-sestamibi images of 99 patients were retrospectively included. UNet and ResNet networks were trained using non-attenuation-corrected SPECT images as input, whereas CT-based attenuation-corrected (CT-AC) SPECT images served as reference. Chang’s calculated AC approach considering a uniform attenuation coefficient within the body contour was also implemented. Clinical and quantitative evaluations of the proposed methods were performed considering SPECT CT-AC images of 19 subjects (external validation set) as reference. Image-derived metrics, including the voxel-wise mean error (ME), mean absolute error, relative error, structural similarity index (SSI), and peak signal-to-noise ratio, as well as clinical relevant indices, such as total perfusion deficit (TPD), were utilized. Overall, AC SPECT images generated using the deep learning networks exhibited good agreement with SPECT CT-AC images, substantially outperforming Chang’s method. The ResNet and UNet models resulted in an ME of −6.99 ± 16.72 and −4.41 ± 11.8 and an SSI of 0.99 ± 0.04 and 0.98 ± 0.05, respectively. Chang’s approach led to ME and SSI of 25.52 ± 33.98 and 0.93 ± 0.09, respectively. Similarly, the clinical evaluation revealed a mean TPD of 12.78 ± 9.22% and 12.57 ± 8.93% for ResNet and UNet models, respectively, compared to 12.84 ± 8.63% obtained from SPECT CT-AC images. Conversely, Chang’s approach led to a mean TPD of 16.68 ± 11.24%. The deep learning AC methods have the potential to achieve reliable AC in MPI-SPECT imaging.

eng
Keywords
  • SPECT
  • Myocardial perfusion imaging
  • Quantification
  • Attenuation correction
  • Deep learning
Citation (ISO format)
MOSTAFAPOUR, Samaneh et al. Deep learning-guided attenuation correction in the image domain for myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging. In: Journal of computational design and engineering, 2022, vol. 9, n° 2, p. 434–447. doi: 10.1093/jcde/qwac008
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ISSN of the journal2288-4300
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Technical informations

Creation03/12/2022 10:20:00 PM
First validation03/12/2022 10:20:00 PM
Update time03/16/2023 2:53:27 AM
Status update03/16/2023 2:53:27 AM
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