Fig. 2

Representation of the resolution distortion correction method for estimating the IDIF. A 20 mm segment of the iliac artery was manually defined in a region with homogenous background signal. Profiles across the vessel were generated at each location along the length of the vessel segment. Each profile was fit with a vessel profile model to estimate the vessel diameters. The mean vessel diameter estimate was then used to generate a 3D vessel model. Simulated PET images were generated by convolving the 3D vessel and background model to estimate resolution distortion correction factors (shown in upper right for a single patient). Resolution-distortion corrected time-activity curves (lower right) for the vessel region were then generated using the distortion correction factors and original time-activity curves. IDIF—image-derived input function. RDC—resolution distortion corrected. VOI—volume of interest