Reference

The BPnd (Wu SRTM2 Ref) model is has been implemented according to the Appendix in Wu et al. [35]. In the abstract, they write:

"The Simplified Reference Tissue Model (SRTM) produces functional images of receptor binding parameters using an input function derived from a reference region and assuming a model with one tissue compartment. Three parameters are estimated: binding potential (BP), relative delivery (R₁), and the reference region clearance constant k₂'. Since k'₂ should not vary across brain pixels, the authors developed a two-step method (SRTM₂) using a global value of k₂'. Whole-brain simulations were performed using human input functions and rate constants for [18F]FCWAY, [11C]flumazenil, and [11C]raclopride, and parameter SD and bias were determined for SRTM and SRTM₂. The global mean of k₂' was slightly biased (2% to 6%), but the median was unbiased (<1%) and was used as the global value. Binding potential noise reductions with SRTM2 were 4% to 14%, 20% to 53%, and 10% to 30% for [18F]FCWAY, [11C]flumazenil, and [11C]raclopride, respectively, with larger reductions for shorter scans. R1 noise reduction was larger than that of BP. Simulations were also performed to assess bias when the reference and/or tissue regions followed a two-tissue compartment model. Owing to the constrained k₂', SRTM₂ showed somewhat larger biases due to violations of the one- compartment model assumption. These studies demonstrate that SRTM₂ should be a useful method to improve the quality of neuroreceptor functional images."