Changes of [(18)F]FDG-PET/CT quantitative parameters in tumor lesions by the Bayesian penalized-likelihood PET reconstruction algorithm and its influencing factors

BACKGROUND: To compare the changes in quantitative parameters and the size and degree of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ([(18)F]FDG) uptake of malignant tumor lesions between Bayesian penalized-likelihood (BPL) and non-BPL reconstruction algorithms. METHODS: Positron emission tomography/computed tomography images of 86 malignant tumor lesions were reconstructed using the algorithms of ordered subset expectation maximization (OSEM), OSEM + time of flight (TOF), OSEM + TOF + point spread function (PSF), and BPL. [(18)F]FDG parameters of maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), SUVmean, metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), and signal-to-background ratio (SBR) of these lesions were measured. Quantitative parameters between the different reconstruction algorithms were compared, and correlations between parameter variation and lesion size or the degree of [(18)F]FDG uptake were analyzed. RESULTS: After BPL reconstruction, SUVmax, SUVmean, and SBR were significantly increased, MTV was significantly decreased. The difference values of %ΔSUVmax, %ΔSUVmean, %ΔSBR, and the absolute value of %ΔMTV between BPL and OSEM + TOF were 40.00%, 38.50%, 33.60%, and 33.20%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those between BPL and OSEM + TOF + PSF. Similar results were observed in the comparison of OSEM and OSEM + TOF + PSF with BPL. The %ΔSUVmax, %ΔSUVmean, and %ΔSBR were all significantly negatively correlated with the size and degree of [(18)F]FDG uptake in the lesions, whereas significant positive correlations were observed for %ΔMTV and %ΔTLG. CONCLUSION: The BPL reconstruction algorithm significantly increased SUVmax, SUVmean, and SBR and decreased MTV of tumor lesions, especially in small or relatively hypometabolic lesions.