Development of Spatial Normalization Methods for Ventilation-Perfusion Scintigraphic Images

Ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scintigraphy has a major role to play in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE). V/Q scintigraphy rather helps infer the presence of PE based on compromised perfusion of the occluded segmental and sub-segmental pulmonary arteries. Therefore, expert knowledge of the bronchopulmonary segmental anatomy on the various 2D planar projections of the lung and also in 3D for single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) acquisitions is essential. However, due to the present-day under-utilization of V/Q scintigraphy, the art of reading V/Q studies may be reduced, leading to decreased diagnostic accuracy and confidence. One way to help with interpretation is to map patient-specific V/Q images to “templates” where the segmental anatomy is outlined. The objective of this research project is to use existing pulmonary anatomy templates and create new ones in order to develop methods for performing spatial normalization of individual patient data and thus mapping of V/Q findings to segmental anatomy. These tools are intended to increase the value of V/Q scans as a nuclear medicine procedure and promote its use by facilitating workflow and interpretation.

Faculty Supervisor:

Ran Klein

Student:

Partner:

Jubilant Radiopharma

Discipline:

Computer science

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Ottawa

Program: