Computer-assisted Curie scoring for metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scans in patients with neuroblastoma.
BACKGROUND
Radiolabeled metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) is sensitive and specific for detecting neuroblastoma. The extent of MIBG-avid disease is assessed using Curie scores. Although Curie scoring is prognostic in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma, there is no standardized method to assess the response of specific sites of disease over time. The goal of this study was to develop approaches for Curie scoring to facilitate the calculation of scores and comparison of specific sites on serial scans.


PROCEDURE
We designed three semiautomated methods for determining Curie scores, each with increasing degrees of computer assistance. Method A was based on visual assessment and tallying of MIBG-avid lesions. For method B, scores were tabulated from a schematic that associated anatomic regions to MIBG-positive lesions. For method C, an anatomic mesh was used to mark MIBG-positive lesions with automatic assignment and tallying of scores. Five imaging physicians experienced in MIBG interpretation scored 38 scans using each method, and the feasibility and utility of the methods were assessed using surveys.


RESULTS
There was good reliability between methods and observers. The user-interface methods required 57 to 110 seconds longer than the visual method. Imaging physicians indicated that it was useful that methods B and C enabled tracking of lesions. Imaging physicians preferred method B to method C because of its efficiency.


CONCLUSIONS
We demonstrate the feasibility of semiautomated approaches for Curie score calculation. Although more time was needed for strategies B and C, the ability to track and document individual MIBG-positive lesions over time is a strength of these methods.
['Sokol|Elizabeth A|EA|0000-0002-1787-6901', 'Engelmann|Roger|R|', 'Kang|Wenjun|W|', 'Pinto|Navin|N|0000-0002-8775-6710', 'Starkey|Adam|A|', 'Lai|Hollie|H|', 'Nadel|Helen|H|', 'Shulkin|Barry L|BL|0000-0003-4784-7914', 'Pu|Yonglin|Y|', 'Appelbaum|Daniel|D|', 'Yanik|Gregory A|GA|', 'Cohn|Susan L|SL|', 'Armato|Samuel G|SG|', 'Volchenboum|Samuel|S|0000-0001-9863-851X']
D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine D000293:Adolescent D002648:Child D002675:Child, Preschool D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted D007223:Infant D008297:Male D009447:Neuroblastoma D011877:Radionuclide Imaging D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals D015203:Reproducibility of Results D055815:Young Adult
Curie score MIBG neuroblastoma