Clinical evaluation of [(123)I]FP-CIT SPECT scans on the novel brain-dedicated InSPira HD SPECT system: a head-to-head comparison

The InSPira HD system, a novel brain-dedicated SPECT scanner, allows for imaging with a high spatial resolution. Here, we tested whether this scanner can be used to image the dopamine transporter adequately. Therefore, striatal phantom and patient data acquired on the InSPira were compared head-to-head with the well-validated brain-dedicated NeuroFocus system. A striatal phantom filled with [123I] and 14 subjects (after [123I]FP-CIT injection) were scanned on both systems. [123I]FP-CIT SPECT scans were visually assessed. Striatal binding ratios were calculated automatically using the software package BRASS. Striatal phantom and patient data showed strong correlations with respect to striatal ratios (R = 0.99 and R = 0.92; p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). Slightly higher ratios were found for the NeuroFocus patient data, probably due to differences in system performance. Visual assessment of [123I]FP-CIT scans showed agreement between systems in 13 of the 14 cases. We conclude that [123I]FP-CIT SPECT imaging can be performed adequately on the new InSPira system.