The Heterogeneity of Flow Distribution and Partition Coefficient in [¹⁵O-H₂O] Myocardium Positron Emission Tomography

[¹⁵O-H₂O] 심근 양전자 단층 촬영에서 혈류 분포의 비균일성과 분배계수

For estimation of regional myocardial blood flow with O-15 water PET, a few modifications considering partial volume effect based on single compartment model have been proposed. In this study, we attempted to quantify the degree of heterogeneity and to show the effect of tissue flow heterogeneity on partition coefficient(${\lambda}$) and to find the relation between perfusable tissue index(PTI) and ${\lambda}$ by computer simulation using two modified models. We simulated tissue curves for the regions with homogeneous and heterogeneous blood flow over a various flow range(0.2-4.0ml/g/min). Simulated heterogeneous tissue composed of 4 subregions of the same or different size of block which have different homogeneous flow and different degree of slope of distribution of blood flow. We measured the index representing heterogeneity of distribution of blood flow for each heterogeneous tissue by the constitution heterogeneity(CH). For model I, we assumed that tissue recovery coefficient ($F_{MME}$) was the product of partial volume effect($F_{MMF}$) and PTI. Using model I, PTI, flow, and $F_{MM}$ were estimated. For model II, we assumed that partition coefficient was another variable which could represent tissue characteristics of heterogeneity of flow distribution. Using model II, PTI, flow and ${\lambda}$ were estimated. For the simulated tissue with homogeneous flow, both models gave exactly the same estimates, of three parameters. For the simulated tissue with heterogeneous flow distribution, in model I, flow and $F_{MM}$ were correctly estimated as CH was increased moderately. In model II, flow and ${\lambda}$ were decreased curvi-linearly as CH was increased. The degree of underestimation of ${\lambda}$ obtained using model II, was correlated with CH. The degree of underestimation of flow was dependent on the degree of underestimation of ${\lambda}$. PTI was somewhat overestimated and did not change according to CH. We conclude that estimated ${\lambda}$ reflect the degree of tissue heterogeneity of flow distribution. We could use the degree of underestimation of ${\lambda}$ to find the characteristic heterogeneity of tissue flow and use ${\lambda}$ to recover the underestimated flow.

O-15 표지 물 동적 PET을 이용하여 비균일 심근조직의 혈류를 정확히 추정하기 위하여 일차구획 모델을 변형한 두 개의 혈류 모델을 고안하였다. 첫 모델에서는 혈류, PTI, 조직회수 분획($F_{MM}$)을 추정하였고, 두 번째 모델에서는 혈류, PTI, 그리고 분배계수를 추정하였다. 비균일 심근조직의 비균일성을 나타낼 지표를 도입하여 여러 종류의 비균일 조직을 모사하고 이 지표로 비균일성을 표현하였다. 우리 모델을 적용하여 PTI가 혈류분포의 비균일성과 상관이 적음을 확인하고 분배계수를 변수로 취급한 두 번째 모델에서 추정한 분배계수가 비균일성을 나타냄을 알았다. 분배계수는 비균일성에 따라 굽은 선형(curvilinear)으로 감소하였다. 분배계수와 함께 추정된 혈류도 비균일성이 커지면 참값보다 작게 추정되었다. 추정된 분배계수로 혈류 추정값의 과소평가플 보정하여 추정값의 바이어스를 바로잡을 수 있었다. O-15 표지 물 동적 PET으로 심근혈류를 측정할 때 분배계수를 변수로서 혈류와 함께 추정하여 비균일성을 나타내는 지표로 쓰고 동시에 혈류 추정값을 참값에 가까운 값을 얻는데 쓸 수 있다고 본다. 혈류분포의 비균일성 정도를 수치적으로 표시할 수 있는 지표를 임상에 적용하면 허혈성 심근 질환의 혈류 비균일성을 해석할 수 있을 것으로 생각한다.