Quantitative comparison of [18F]fallypride PET binding potential estimates using reference tissue models in rat brains

Abstract

The purpose of our study was to compare commonly used mathematical models for analyzing dynamic [18F]fallypride PET data in rat brains when arterial input function is not available. For the quantification of dopamine D2/3 receptors, we compared the time activity curves (TACs) and binding potential estimates using several simplified methods, including the 1T simplified reference tissue model (SRTM), using 60 minutes versus 90 minutes of emission recording, the 2T Reference method, and the equilibrium concentration ratios. The reliability of fit of the tissue time activity curves (TACs) and the binding potential estimates were then compared.