Strapline: A 60-min PET scan shortened to a 4-min PET scan to estimate bone formation rate (Ki)
Main Body: For the past 30 years, researchers have been using [18F] sodium fluoride ([18F]NaF) positron emission tomography (PET) scans to study skeletal metabolism by measuring bone formation rate (Ki). This technique has proven valuable in clinical research, particularly in trials for osteoporosis drug treatments and investigating metabolic bone diseases like chronic kidney disease mineral and bone disorder. It has also shown promise in assessing bone fracture risk in breast cancer patients with metastatic bone disease and may have applications in other cancer types like prostate cancer.
However, traditional studies using this technique have typically required a 60-minute dynamic PET scan and measurement of the arterial input function (AIF), making them less practical for diagnostic purposes in clinical settings. To address this limitation, we have developed a simplified method that estimates the Ki value at an imaging site using a shorter (4-minute) static scan and 2-3 venous blood samples. This approach offers several advantages.
One major advantage is that multiple Ki values can be quickly measured at different sites using a single tracer injection and a series of static scans. Additionally, we provide a spreadsheet that enables others to calculate Ki values using this simplified method. This allows researchers to study bone formation rates in metabolic and metastatic bone diseases without the need for invasive arterial blood sampling.
By implementing this technique, scan times are shortened, procedures are simplified, and the cost of conducting multicenter trials is reduced. Importantly, these improvements do not compromise the accuracy or precision of the results.
Overall, our simplified method offers a practical and cost-effective approach for studying bone formation rates in various bone-related conditions, paving the way for broader clinical applications and advancements in the field of skeletal metabolism research.