Feasibility of PET/CT system performance harmonisation for quantitative multicentre Zr-89 studies

PurposeThe aim of this study was to investigate the variability in quantitative performance and feasibility of quantitative harmonisation in Zr-89 PET/CT imaging.MethodsEight EANM EARL-accredited (Kaalep A et al., Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 45:412-22, 2018) PET/CT systems were investigated using phantom acquisitions of uniform and NEMA NU2-2007 body phantoms. The phantoms were filled according to EANM EARL guidelines for [F-18]FDG, but [F-18]FDG solution was replaced by a Zr-89 calibration mixture. For each system, standard uptake value (SUV) accuracy and recovery coefficients (RC) using SUVmean, SUVmax and SUVpeak metrics were determined.ResultsAll eight investigated systems demonstrated similarly shaped RC curves, and five of them exhibited closely aligning recoveries when SUV bias correction was applied. From the evaluated metrics, SUVpeak was found to be least sensitive to noise and reconstruction differences among different systems.ConclusionsHarmonisation of PET/CT scanners for quantitative Zr-89 studies is feasible when proper scanner-dose calibrator cross-calibration and harmonised image reconstruction procedures are followed. An accreditation programme for PET/CT scanners would facilitate multicentre Zr-89 quantitative studies

Principles of data management and sharing at European Research Infrastructures

Under the umbrella of the BioMedBridges project, fourteen research infrastructures in the biological, biomedical and environmental sciences developed commonly agreed principles of data management and sharing. The document makes key recommendations on how data management and sharing via the research infrastructures can be supported and encouraged: The RIs encourage data sharing and reuse and support the notion that public funders should encourage Open Access to data from publicly funded research where possible. Some data may only be shared under certain conditions and with appropriate safekeeping mechanisms in place, such as personally identifiable data, data subject to ethical or legal restrictions, or restrictions for intellectual property protection. To encourage data sharing, systematic reward and recognition mechanisms are necessary. Proposals for publicly funded research at RIs should include a data management plan concerning the deposition of data in long-term archives that addresses specific resources and activities (including standardisation of data production and curation/annotation). Funding for tools and activities connected to data deposition must be available. Systems, services and resources must be in place to facilitate straightforward data deposition by researchers, including support concerning the necessary data use agreements and consent forms for data with data protection or intellectual property requirements. Systems are also needed to capture and track data provenance and use. To ensure necessary trust by data providers or depositors, RIs must guarantee high standards of security and traceability

Feasibility of PET/CT system performance harmonisation for quantitative multicenter ⁸⁹Zr studies

Data supporting the findings reported in EJNMMI Physics article Feasibility of PET/CT system performance harmonisation for quantitative multicenter ⁸⁹Zr studies</p

A framework for quality management in the biomedical research infrastructures (BMS RIs)

Thirteen biomedical research infrastructures (BMS RIs) have been prioritised by the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures as ESFRI Projects or ESFRI Landmarks. This working paper describes a core set of eight principles on quality management recognised by all BMS RIs

Feasibility of PET/CT system performance harmonisation for quantitative multicentre 89Zr studies

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the variability in quantitative performance and feasibility of quantitative harmonisation in 89Zr PET/CT imaging. Methods Eight EANM EARL-accredited (Kaalep A et al., Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 45:412–22, 2018) PET/CT systems were investigated using phantom acquisitions of uniform and NEMA NU2-2007 body phantoms. The phantoms were filled according to EANM EARL guidelines for [18F]FDG, but [18F]FDG solution was replaced by a 89Zr calibration mixture. For each system, standard uptake value (SUV) accuracy and recovery coefficients (RC) using SUVmean, SUVmax and SUVpeak metrics were determined. Results All eight investigated systems demonstrated similarly shaped RC curves, and five of them exhibited closely aligning recoveries when SUV bias correction was applied. From the evaluated metrics, SUVpeak was found to be least sensitive to noise and reconstruction differences among different systems. Conclusions Harmonisation of PET/CT scanners for quantitative 89Zr studies is feasible when proper scanner-dose calibrator cross-calibration and harmonised image reconstruction procedures are followed. An accreditation programme for PET/CT scanners would facilitate multicentre 89Zr quantitative studies