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Simplification of PET studies

Within the constraints of the tracer and the instrumentation, a number of trade-offs must be evaluated in determining the final form of the model [Carson 1991]:

Is it necessary to measure the input function?
Are arterial samples required for quantitation, or can it be done with venous samples?
Is continuous blood sampling necessary or can it be done with manual samples?
Is it necessary to measure the fractions of tracer metabolites in plasma?
How long PET scanning is needed?
How many time frames we need, or is a single scan sufficient?
Are multiple tracer injections under different conditions required?
Can parameter estimates be calculated on a pixel-by-pixel basis to generate a functional image?

Simplified methods must be validated for the clinical use. Example of such a validation study has been performed by Krak et al. (2003).

Carson RE. The development and application of mathematical models in nuclear medicine. J Nucl Med. 1991; 32: 2206-2208.

Krak NC, van der Hoeven JJM, Hoekstra OS, Twisk JWR, van der Wall E, Lammertsma AA. Measuring [¹⁸F]FDG uptake in breast cancer during chemotherapy: comparison of analytical methods. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2003; 30: 674-681.