Absorbed Dose Estimation for Routine 18F-FDG PETstudies: validation of the SUV ratio method using a computer cluster

The purpose of the investigation was to evaluate the validity of using ratios of standarized uptake values of clinical and simulated PET images as a method to correct the radiation exposure of patients with abnormal tissue distribution of F-18, FDG uptake in PET imaging. The evaluation was done using Monte Carlo simulations in a cluster of multi-core computers using the GATE nuclear medicine simulation software. The results revealed considerable improvement in estimating radiation exposure with this method. More importantly the estimated exposure is that due to the actual bio-distribution of the tracer and not an idealized "standard" dosimetry.