Received 21 March 2015; accepted 10 May 2015; published 15 May 2015

ABSTRACT

Objective: The width of the photopeak energy window influences the image quality and quantitative accuracy of gamma camera imaging. We compared 20% and 15% energy windows in renal scintigraphy with ^99mTc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG3), especially in terms of camera-based quantitative estimation of renal function. Materials and Methods: Forty patients who underwent dynamic renal scintigraphy with ^99mTc-MAG3 were enrolled in this study. Images were acquired simultaneously using two energy windows centered at 140 keV and with widths of 20% and 15%. Fractional renal uptake was calculated as the ratio of initial renal uptake estimated by patient imaging to injected dose estimated by syringe imaging, and was converted to MAG3 clearance using an empirical equation determined previously from data obtained with a 20% energy window. Relative function of the right kidney was also assessed. Visual evaluation was performed to compare image quality between the 20% and 15% energy windows. Results: Both total kidney MAG3 clearance and relative function of the right kidney were identical between the 20% and 15% energy windows. Image quality was also similar irrespective of the energy window width. Conclusions: The camera-based method established using a 20% energy window is applicable for the estimation of renal function using a 15% energy window, and data obtained using 20% and 15% windows are interchangeable.

Keywords:

^99mTc-Mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG3), Dynamic Renal Scintigraphy, Renal Function, Energy Window, Quantitative Measurement

1. Introduction

Dynamic renal scintigraphy with ^99mTc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG3) allows quantitative estimation of differential renal function using camera-based methods without blood sampling [1] -[5] . Initial renal uptake and injected dose are assessed using a gamma camera to calculate fractional renal uptake, which is converted to an index of renal function using a predefined empirical equation [1] -[4] .

In gamma camera imaging, the energy of the gamma ray photon is determined with the pulse-height analyzer. Only when the energy is within the predefined photopeak energy window, the gamma ray photon is regarded as primary photons originating from the radionuclide of interest and is recorded to produce a final image. This energy-based selection reduces the contribution of scattered photons and improves the contrast and sharpness of the resulting image.

The width of the photopeak energy window is one of essential parameters of data acquisition using a gamma camera and may influence image quality and quantitative accuracy [6] [7] . For imaging ^99mTc sources, a 20% or 15% energy window is commonly used. A narrow window restricts the contamination of scattered photons’ efficiently and may provide a sharp image when sufficient counts are obtained. In contrast, reduced counts may cause degradation of image quality due to a signal-to-noise ratio. To estimate renal function, the injected dose is assessed by imaging an injection syringe, while renal uptake is assessed by patient imaging. Scatter conditions differ between syringe imaging and patient imaging, which may cause variations in estimated fractional renal uptake depending on the energy window width.

In the present study, we compared 20% and 15% energy windows in renal scintigraphy with ^99mTc-MAG3, especially in terms of estimation of renal function. The principal aim was to determine the applicability of camera-based methods established using a 20% energy window to estimation of renal function from data obtained using a 15% window.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Subjects

Forty patients (M:F = 26:14; age 62.9 ± 13.1 years, mean ± SD) who underwent dynamic renal scintigraphy with ^99mTc-MAG3 for various clinical indications from May 2014 to September 2014 were enrolled in this study. Two patients had only a right kidney, and the other patients had both kidneys. The present study was approved by the institutional review board, and need for informed consent was waived.

2.2. Imaging Procedures

Thirty min after oral intake of 300 mL of water, 200 MBq of ^99mTc-MAG3 was administered intravenously with the patient in the supine position, and dynamic imaging was performed for 30 min. Although we acquired both anterior and posterior images routinely, posterior images were exclusively used for study purpose. A gamma camera system (BrightViewXCT, Philips Healthcare, Cleveland, OH) equipped with a low-energy general purpose collimator was used. This system allowed simultaneous acquisition at different frame rates and using distinct, overlapping energy windows. Images were acquired using two energy windows centered at 140 keV and with widths of 20% and 15%. For each energy window, two data sets were obtained at different frame rates: one consisted of 80 3-s frames followed by 104 15-s frames, while the other consisted of 30 1-min frames. The 3-s images were used to quantitatively estimate renal function and visually evaluate perfusion, and the 1-min images were used for visual evaluation of renal function and urinary excretion. A 128 × 128 matrix was employed, and the zoom factor was set at 1.

The injected dose was measured with the same gamma camera system using 20% and 15% energy windows. The syringe was placed on the imaging table above the detector head before and after injection, and data were acquired for 10 s each. A 512 × 512 matrix was used, with a zoom factor of 1.46.

2.3. Estimation of Renal Function

Regions of interest (ROIs) were drawn for the kidneys and subrenal background areas by a semiautomated method [8] on images acquired with the 20% energy window, and modified manually if necessary. The ROIs were stored and applied for the analysis of images obtained using the 15% window. Background-subtracted renal counts at 1 - 2 min after tracer arrival at the kidney (cpm) were calculated for the right (Cr) and left (Cl) kidneys.

Renal depth was calculated by the following formulas [9] :

(1)

(2)

where Dr and Dl are the depths (cm) of the right and left kidneys, respectively, BW is body weight (kg), and BH is body height (cm). Attenuation factors for the right (AFr) and left (AFl) kidneys were estimated, assuming an attenuation coefficient of 0.10/cm, as follows:

(3)

(4)

Counts for the syringe were determined using a square ROI of 206 × 206 pixels before and after injection and corrected for decay to the injection time. The injected count (Ci) was calculated as the preinjection count minus the postinjection count and was expressed as cpm.

The percent renal uptake (%RU) was calculated as follows:

(5)

The percent renal uptake for the 20% window was calculated using patient and syringe images obtained with the 20% energy window, while the percent renal uptake for the 15% window was calculated using patient and syringe images obtained with the 15% window.

The MAG3 clearance (CL) was calculated using a conversion equation: CL = 13.577 × %RU + 0.50. This equation was determined empirically based on data obtained using a 20% energy window in a previous study [4] . In the present study, the same equation was used for the 20% and 15% windows. Relative renal function was estimated in 38 patients who had both kidneys. Relative function of the right kidney (%RK) was calculated by the following equation:

(6)

Differences in MAG3 clearance and relative function of the right kidney were calculated in each patient as the value derived using the 15% window minus that derived using the 20% window.

2.4. Visual Evaluation of Image Quality

The qualities of the perfusion image set (initial 20 3-s images) and functional and excretory image set (30 1-min images) were visually compared between the 20% and 15% energy windows. Comparison was made independently by two board-certified nuclear medicine physicians, and discrepancy was resolved by consensus between them. The image sets obtained using the 20% and 15% energy windows in a given patient were displayed side-by-side on a monitor. The observers were blinded to the energy window width used to acquire each image set. They reviewed all images set, and assigned a score as follows: score 1, the left image set is superior to the right image set; score 2, both image sets are of equal quality; score 3, the left image set is inferior to the right image set.

2.5. Statistical Analysis

Data were expressed as mean ± SD. Linear regression analysis was made by the least squares method.

3. Results

The kidney ROI determined by the semiautomated method was modified manually for seven kidneys of five patients, among 78 kidneys of 40 patients. The need for manual modification was attributed to severely impaired function in three kidneys of three patients and large respiratory motion in four kidneys of two patients.

The MAG3 clearances using the 20% and 15% energy windows were 214.9 ± 70.1 mL/min/1.73 m² (range, 54.0 - 345.6 mL/min/1.73 m²) and 215.7 ± 70.1 mL/min/1.73 m² (range, 55.0 - 349.6 mL/min/1.73 m²), respectively. They showed close correlation with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 (Figure 1). The difference in MAG3 clearance was 0.8 ± 2.3 mL/min/1.73 m² (range, −3.2 - 6.4 mL/min/1.73 m²).

The relative functions of the right kidney using the 20% and 15% energy windows were 51.4% ± 16.1% (range, 8.7% - 97.9%) and 51.4% ± 16.1% (range, 8.7% - 98.0%), respectively, in 38 patients having two kidneys. They showed close correlation with a correlation coefficient of 1.000 (Figure 2). The difference in %RK was 0.0% ± 0.1% (range, −0.4% - 0.2%).

Visual evaluation indicated equal qualities for both perfusion image sets and functional and excretory image sets of all patients. There were no disagreements between the two observers for any result.

4. Discussion

Quantitative evaluation of differential renal function is important in dynamic renal scintigraphy. In camera- based methods of estimating renal function, fractional renal uptake (the ratio of initial renal uptake to injected dose) is converted to an index of renal function using a predefined equation [1] -[5] . The width of the energy window is an essential parameter to define data acquisition using a gamma camera and may influence image quality and quantitative accuracy. In the present study, we investigated the effect of selection of the energy window width on the estimation of renal function from dynamic renal scintigraphy with ^99mTc-MAG3. The gamma camera system used in this study can acquire images with distinct and overlapping energy windows simultaneously, facilitating precise comparison among different energy window widths.

The present study demonstrated that both total kidney MAG3 clearance and relative function of the right kidney were essentially identical between 20% and 15% energy windows, as indicated by concordant means, perfect correlations, and quite limited differences. The empirical equation employed was established using clinical data obtained with a 20% energy window [4] . Dynamic renal scintigraphy may be performed using a 20% or 15% energy window. Our results indicate that the same equation is applicable for the estimation of renal function from renal scintigraphy performed using a 15% energy window and that data obtained using 20% and 15% windows are interchangeable. The image quality was also similar irrespective of the energy window width. The selection of the energy window width of either 20% or 15% appears to be irrelevant for dynamic renal scintigraphy with ^99mTc-MAG3.

References

NOTES

^*Corresponding author.