Post-reconstruction enhancement of [18F]FDG PET images with a convolutional neural network

Abstract

AI can enhance [¹⁸F]FDG-PET images to reduce noise and increase contrast compared with standard images whilst keeping SUV_max/peak stability. There were significant differences in scoring between the 1.5 min and 1.5 min CNN image sets in all comparisons, the latter had higher scores in noise and contrast. Furthermore, difference in SUV_max and SUV_peak fell short of significance for that pair. The improved image quality can potentially be used either to provide better images to the nuclear medicine physicians or to reduce acquisition time/administered activity.