Accuracy and reproducibility of tumor positioning during prolonged and multi-modality animal imaging studies Journal Article


Authors: Zhang, M.; Huang, M.; Le, C.; Zanzonico, P. B.; Claus, F.; Kolbert, K. S.; Martin, K.; Ling, C. C.; Koutcher, J. A.; Humm, J. L.
Article Title: Accuracy and reproducibility of tumor positioning during prolonged and multi-modality animal imaging studies
Abstract: Dedicated small-animal imaging devices, e.g. positron emission tomography (PET), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners, are being increasingly used for translational molecular imaging studies. The objective of this work was to determine the positional accuracy and precision with which tumors in situ can be reliably and reproducibly imaged on dedicated small-animal imaging equipment. We designed, fabricated and tested a custom rodent cradle with a stereotactic template to facilitate registration among image sets. To quantify tumor motion during our small-animal imaging protocols, 'gold standard' multi-modality point markers were inserted into tumor masses on the hind limbs of rats. Three types of imaging examination were then performed with the animals continuously anesthetized and immobilized: (i) consecutive microPET and MR images of tumor xenografts in which the animals remained in the same scanner for 2 h duration, (ii) multi-modality imaging studies in which the animals were transported between distant imaging devices and (iii) serial microPET scans in which the animals were repositioned in the same scanner for subsequent images. Our results showed that the animal tumor moved by less than 0.2-0.3 mm over a continuous 2 h microPET or MR imaging session. The process of transporting the animal between instruments introduced additional errors of approximately 0.2 mm. In serial animal imaging studies, the positioning reproducibility within approximately 0.8 mm could be obtained.
Keywords: nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; positron emission tomography; methodology; magnetic resonance imaging; sensitivity and specificity; reproducibility; reproducibility of results; animal; animals; pathology; cell line, tumor; prostatic neoplasms; image subtraction; subtraction technique; prostate tumor; tumor cell line; rat; positron-emission tomography; scintiscanning; rats; nude rat; rats, nude
Journal Title: Physics in Medicine and Biology
Volume: 53
Issue: 20
ISSN: 0031-9155
Publisher: IOP Publishing Ltd  
Date Published: 2008-10-21
Start Page: 5867
End Page: 5882
Language: English
DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/53/20/021
PUBMED: 18827321
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC2668861
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 8" - "Export Date: 17 November 2011" - "Source: Scopus"
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MSK Authors
  1. Filip Claus
    4 Claus
  2. Minming Huang
    4 Huang
  3. Katherine S Kolbert
    28 Kolbert
  4. John Laurence Humm
    433 Humm
  5. Pat B Zanzonico
    355 Zanzonico
  6. Hongbiao Carl Lekaye
    32 Lekaye
  7. Jason A Koutcher
    278 Koutcher
  8. C Clifton Ling
    331 Ling
  9. Kyle S Martin
    1 Martin
  10. Mutian Zhang
    8 Zhang