Identification of lung physiological parameters with dynamic positron emission tomography and tracer kinetic modeling

Lung function is vital to the organism. There is a multitude of acute and chronic diseases where this function can be impaired, and understanding and identifying the mechanisms of lung injury is key to clinical management of this life-threatening condition. To provide the technological means of elucidating some of these mechanisms, this book formally derives and discusses a coherent strategy for system identification with dynamic positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging of the radiotracer [18F]-labeled 2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (18F-FDG). This strategy comprises methods of image processing to obtain time-activity curves from dynamic PET data, of continuous time least-squares parameter identification, and analytical methods of model validation. Furthermore, a non-invasive, model-based method of acquiring a pulmonary 18F-FDG input function is being developed. Pulmonary PET imaging data from settings of acute lung injury due to smoke inhalation and mechanical ventilation are analyzed.