The ETP (http://www.readvizamyl.com but preloaded on dedicated computers for the purpose of this study) familiarized nuclear medicine physicians, radiologists and technologists with the proper orientation and interpretation of [18F]flutemetamol PET images, as well as providing background information on brain anatomy and pathophysiology useful for image interpretation. The programme comprised four interactive modules including self-assessments covering the following:
To complete the testing process, the trainee was required to independently read and classify images and was provided expert feedback on a series of images. To be deemed ready to interpret [18F]flutemetamol images, users had then to correctly assign at least 14/15 images in the test at the end of the training.
The programme emphasized the importance and benefits of a colour (e.g. rainbow or Sokoloff) scale to facilitate identification of elevated levels of [18F]flutemetamol activity. By setting a known negative region, such as the cerebellar cortex, to 30%, and/or using pons activity to set near maximal intensity (90%), the colour gradient enabled differentiation between positive and negative regions of amyloid uptake in the cortex.
To complete the testing process, the trainee was required to independently read and classify images and was provided expert feedback on a series of images. To be deemed ready to interpret [18F]flutemetamol images, users had then to correctly assign at least 14/15 images in the test at the end of the training.
The programme emphasized the importance and benefits of a colour (e.g. rainbow or Sokoloff) scale to facilitate identification of elevated levels of [18F]flutemetamol activity. By setting a known negative region, such as the cerebellar cortex, to 30%, and/or using pons activity to set near maximal intensity (90%), the colour gradient enabled differentiation between positive and negative regions of amyloid uptake in the cortex.
