Image-Derived Blood Input Function from FDG-PET Images in Mice

In a dynamic Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan, the blood pool (BP) time activity curve forms the input function in a compartmental model technique for evaluation of rate constants to measure myocardial glucose uptake and utilization in vivo. Several methods have been described in the literature for arterial blood sampling, which is the accepted gold standard for measurement of the blood input function [1-3]. A major problem with image-derived blood input function (IDIF) method is that it is susceptible to Spillover (SP) and Partial Volume (PV) effects more so at the early time points due to rapid metabolism and also at the late time points due to cellular trapping of 2-[18F] fluoro-2deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) .