A digital model framework of metabolic system based on visible human data set

Digital model of human metabolic system incorporated with real anatomical structure can be seen as an important tool in order to understand and study the processes of metabolism. This paper presented a whole body digital model framework of [¹⁸F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) metabolism based on the segmented Visible Human Project (VHP) data set as the anatomical structure framework. First, the blood time-activity curve (BTAC) and the tissues time-activity curves (TTAC) were obtained from kinetic analysis. According to the obtained BTAC and TTACs, a set of corresponding values were assigned to the segmented VHP image frames. Thus a set of dynamic volume data were derived to show the ¹⁸F distribution in human body for the predetermined sampling schedule. Finally, the simulated FDG distribution was visualized by coronal, axial, and sagittal slices and volume rendering method. The model established here was especially for the metabolism of FDG; however, the modeling method is general for all tracers. The proposed model represented functional information of dynamical process of human metabolism with high visualization resolution. The results of modeling and visualization provide a useful tool for education and research on nuclear imaging, and may provide a novel technical platform for the study of pharmacokinetics.

Duke Scholars

Author Yunfeng Cui Radiation Oncology