A Computer-Aided Analysis Method of SPECT Brain Images for Quantitative Treatment Monitoring: Performance Evaluations and Clinical Applications

Figure 4

A typical case of treatment monitoring using CAA-CRM approach, where the estimated change-rate map can directly reflect response to treatment. The patient (male, 69-year-old) suffered cerebral infarction in left parietal lobe. While the baseline -ECD SPECT scan was performed 3 days before the treatment of ICA stenting, the follow-up scan was obtained 7 days after the treatment. (a) Three transverse slices (the 36th, 40th, and 44th slices) of baseline SPECT images. The lesion of cerebral infarction is pointed out by white arrow. Around this lesion, the hypoperfusion could be observed. (b) Three corresponding transvers slices of the follow-up SPECT image. There is no improvement in the lesion of cerebral infarction, while the severe recovery is observed for the cerebral ischemia in hypoperfusion regions around the lesion. The recovery level was scaled as severe by the traditional visual inspection in clinical report. (c) Three transverse slices of the derived change-rate map (CRM) fused with baseline SPECT image. The scales of change-rate are presented by rainbow color bar. The warmer color denotes higher change-rate. In this case, the recovered regions can be detected easily and clearly in the change-rate map. (d) The selected transverse slices of the CRM fused with the atlas of brain lobes. The contours of the brain lobes are delineated. The recovered regions can be conveniently localized in the brain area.

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