Request a Quote

Interested in purchasing the Cedars-Sinai Cardiac Suite?

• Fill out a Quote Request

• Call +1-844-CSMC-AIM
  (844-276-2246), press 1 for Sales

• Email sales@csaim.com

Algorithm Validations

For information on QUAD (formerly AIM) and non-QUAD algorithm validations, please visit our validation page.

Publications about QUAD algorithms

QUAD has produced a large number of manuscripts, abstracts, and book chapters over the past 15 years. In addition, many independent researchers have reported on various aspects of our quantitative techniques. We are in the process of collecting and categorizing all pertinent references, but in the meantime we have summarized the most relevant publications. Please come back at a later date for an exhaustive, categorized list. If you wish to be notified of changes to this web site and other news, please register with this web site.

  • QGS+QPS — Quantitative Gated SPECT + Quantitative Perfusion SPECT
  • QBS — Quantitative Blood Pool SPECT
  • Companion — Diastolic function, Eccentricity
  • PlusPack — Motion frozen, Prone/Supine, Serial change, Phase analysis, Shape index
  • Suite 2010 — Quality score, Registration
  • QPET — Quantitative PET (incl. coronary flow reserve)
  • Fusion/CT — Multi-modality fusion, CTA coronaries
  • MoCo — Motion Correction
  • ARG — Automated Report Generation

JACC — Articles from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology are reprinted by permission of Elsevier.

JNM — Articles from the Journal of Nuclear Medicine are reprinted by permission of the Society of Nuclear Medicine.

JNC — Due to copyright restrictions, most articles from the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology are not available in full. We apologize for this inconvenience while we work on a solution. Currently, only the first page of those published manuscripts is available.


QGS Publications  
  • Main contouring algorithm
    Germano G, Kiat H, et al. Automatic Quantification of Ejection Fraction from Gated Myocardial Perfusion SPECT. J Nucl Med 1995; 36(11):2138-2147.   PDF (Source)
    Germano G, Erel J, et al. Quantitative LVEF and Qualitative Regional Function from Gated Thallium-201 Perfusion SPECT. J Nucl Med 1997; 38(5):749-754.   PDF (Source)
    Germano G, Kavanagh P, et al. A New Algorithm for the Quantitation of Myocardial Perfusion SPECT. I: Technical Principles and Reproducibility. J Nucl Med 2000; 41(4):712-719.   PDF (Source)
    Sharir T, Germano G, et al. A New Algorithm for the Quantitation of Myocardial Perfusion SPECT. II: Validation and Diagnostic Yield. J Nucl Med 2000; 41(4):720-727.   PDF (Source)
  • Motion / Thickening algorithm
    Germano G, Erel J, et al. Automatic Quantitation of Regional Myocardial Wall Motion and Thickening From Gated Technetium-99m Sestamibi Myocardial Perfusion Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography. J Am Coll Cardiol 1997; 30(5):1360-1367.   PDF
  • Perfusion normal Limits (PFQ)
    Slomka P, Nishina H, et al. Automated quantification of myocardial perfusion using simplified normal limits. J Nucl Cardiol 2005; 12:66-77.   PDF

QBS Publications  
  • Main algorithm
    Van Kriekinge S, Berman D, et al. Automatic quantification of left ventricular ejection fraction from gated blood pool SPECT. J Nucl Cardiol 1999; 6(5):498-506   PDF
    Daou D, Van Kriekinge S, et al. Automatic quantification of right ventricular function with gated blood pool SPECT. J Nucl Cardiol 2004; 11(3): 293-304   PDF

"Companion" Publications  
  • Diastolic Function
    Akincioglu C, Berman D, et al. Assessment of Diastolic Function Using 16-Frame 99mTc-Sestamibi Gated Myocardial Perfusion SPECT: Normal Values. J Nucl Med 2005; 46: 1102-1108   PDF (Source)
    Nakajima N, Taki J, et al. Diastolic Dysfunction in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis Detected by Gated Myocardial Perfusion SPECT: An Early Sign of Cardiac Involvement. J Nucl Med 2001; 42(2):183-188   PDF (Source)
  • Eccentricity
    Germano G, Kavanagh P, et al. Quantitation in gated perfusion SPECT imaging: The Cedars-Sinai approach. J Nucl Cardiol 2007;14:433-453   PDF

"PlusPack" Publications  
  • Motion-Frozen algorithm
    Slomka P, Nishina H, et al. “Motion-Frozen” Display and Quantification of Myocardial Perfusion. J Nucl Med 2004; 45(7):1128 –1134.   PDF (Source)
  • Prone/Supine algorithm
    Nishina H, Slomka P, et al. Combined Supine and Prone Quantitative Myocardial Perfusion SPECT: Method Development and Clinical Validation in Patients with no Known Coronary Artery Disease. J Nucl Med 2006; 47(1):51–58.   PDF (Source)
  • Stress / Rest registration (serial change) algorithm
    Slomka P, Nishina H, et al. Automatic Quantification of Myocardial Perfusion Stress-Rest Change: A New Measure of Ischemia. J Nucl Med 2004; 45(2):183-191.   PDF (Source)
    Slomka P, Berman D, et al. Quantification of Serial Changes in Myocardial Perfusion. J Nucl Med 2004; 45(12):1978-1980.   PDF (Source)
  • Shape Index algorithm
    Abidov A, Slomka P, et al. Left ventricular shape index assessed by gated stress myocardial perfusion SPECT: Initial description of a new variable. J Nucl Cardiol 2006; 13(5):652–659.   PDF
  • Phase Analysis
    Van Kriekinge S, Nishina H, et al. Automatic Global and Regional Phase Analysis from Gated Myocardial Perfusion SPECT Imaging: Application to the Characterization of Ventricular Contraction in Patients with Left Bundle Branch Block. J Nucl Med 2008; 49:1790-1797   PDF (Source)
    Boogers M, Van Kriekinge S, et al. Quantitative Gated SPECT-Derived Phase Analysis on Gated Myocardial Perfusion SPECT Detects Left Ventricular Dyssynchrony and Predicts Response to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy. J Nucl Med 2009; 50:718-725   PDF (Source)

"Suite 2010" Publications  
  • Quality Score
    Xu Y, Kavanagh P, et al. Automated Quality Control for Segmentation of Myocardial Perfusion SPECT. J Nucl Med 2009; 50:1418-1426   PDF (Source)
  • Automatic Registration
    Slomka P, Cheng V, et al. Quantitative Analysis of Myocardial Perfusion SPECT Anatomically Guided by Coregistered 64-SliceCoronary CT Angiography. J Nucl Med 2009; 50:1621-1630   PDF (Source)

QPET Publications  
  • Compartmental models
    deKemp RA, Declerck J, et al. Multisoftware Reproducibility Study of Stress and Rest Myocardial Blood Flow Assessed with 3D Dynamic PET/CT and a 1-Tissue-Compartment Model of 82Rb Kinetics. J Nucl Med 2013; 54(4):571–577   PDF (Source)
    Slomka PJ, Alexanderson E, et al. Comparison of Clinical Tools for Measurements of Regional Stress and Rest Myocardial Blood Flow Assessed with 13N-Ammonia PET/CT. J Nucl Med 2012; 53:171–181   PDF (Source)
    Yoshida K, Mullani N, et al. Coronary flow and flow reserve by PET simplified for clinical applications using rubidium-82 or nitrogen-13-ammonia. J Nucl Med 1996;37(10):1701-1712   PDF (Source)
    Coxson PG, Brennan KM, et al. Variability and reproducibility of rubidium-82 kinetic parameters in the myocardium of the anesthetized canine. J Nucl Med 1995;36(2):287-296   PDF (Source)
  • Viability
    • to be added

FUSION/CT Publications  
  • Image Fusion
    Slomka P. Software Approach to Merging Molecular with Anatomic Information. J Nucl Med 2004;45(1):36S-45S   PDF (Source)

Motion Correction Publications  
  • Quality Score
    Matsumoto, N, Berman D, et al. Quantitative assessment of motion artifacts and validation of a new motion-correction program for myocardial perfusion SPECT. J Nucl Med 2001; 42(5):687-694   PDF (Source)

ARG Publications  
  • Main algorithm
    Germano G, Kavanagh P, et al. Quantitation in gated perfusion SPECT imaging: The Cedars-Sinai approach. J Nucl Cardiol 2007;14:433-453   PDF


UNUSED1

UNUSED2    Close

Individual applications (QGS, QPS, QBS)

You can find your version number in the "about..." box. Click the About button in the upper right corner of the application.

If using the combined QGS+QPS or AutoQUANT™, the About button is located at the bottom of any of the color scale controls.

AutoQUANT™ users, please see the conversion chart to see which CSMC Cardiac Suite version corresponds to your AutoQUANT™ version.

CSimport

In CSimport (aka CSI), the "about..." box can be displayed from the Help menu in the usual manner.

QGS+QPS and AutoQUANT™

What is the PlusPack module?

PlusPack groups several useful, advanced quantitative and productivity features in one bundle. These features are:

  • Motion frozen: compensate for cardiac motion to generate sharper perfusion datasets
  • Serial change assessment: directly compare serial studies, bypassing comparisons to statistical databases
  • Prone/Supine SPECT perfusion quantification: help eliminate artifacts by merging information from both acquisition positions
  • Shape index calculation: quantify ventricular remodeling, an early marker of disease
  • Phase analysis: assess mechanical dyssynchrony using powerful quantitative and visual tools
  • Powerpoint export: launch the Cardiac Suite from within Microsoft Powerpoint® for enhanced, more interactive presentations

Click here to open a new page with video tutorials about these features.

Basic Perfusion SPECT Bundle

This bundle includes the following applications and features:

QGS - Quantitative Gated SPECT
This application provides cardiac function quantitation using perfusion datasets: ED and ES volumes, ejection fraction. The image data can be viewed in a variety of modes, from selected slices in a 2D view to a rendered 3D surface of the myocardium with function maps (perfusion, motion, thickening and regional EF).
QPS - Quantitative Perfusion SPECT
In addition to cardiac parameters, such as chamber volume and wall area, this application provides perfusion analysis of ungated datasets by comparing rest and stress datasets to a database of normal values (also called normal limits) using statistical methods.
This bundle also includes the CSI data management application and the Companion module (AHA 17-segment scoring, diastolic function, eccentricity).

Basic Perfusion + Blood Pool SPECT Bundle

This bundle includes the following applications and features:

QGS - Quantitative Gated SPECT
This application provides cardiac function quantitation using perfusion datasets: ED and ES volumes, ejection fraction. The image data can be viewed in a variety of modes, from selected slices in a 2D view to a rendered 3D surface of the myocardium with function maps (perfusion, motion, thickening and regional EF).
QPS - Quantitative Perfusion SPECT
In addition to cardiac parameters, such as chamber volume and wall area, this application provides perfusion analysis of ungated datasets by comparing rest and stress datasets to a database of normal values (also called normal limits) using statistical methods.
QBS - Quantitative Blood Pool SPECT
This application provides automatic quantitation of left- and right-ventricular function (ejection fraction, ED and ES volumes, stroke volumes) using gated blood pool SPECT images. It also displays motion polar maps and parametric surfaces.
This bundle also includes the CSI data management application and the Companion module (AHA 17-segment scoring, diastolic function, eccentricity).

Deluxe Perfusion SPECT Bundle

This bundle includes the following applications and features:

QGS - Quantitative Gated SPECT
This application provides cardiac function quantitation using perfusion datasets: ED and ES volumes, ejection fraction. The image data can be viewed in a variety of modes, from selected slices in a 2D view to a rendered 3D surface of the myocardium with function maps (perfusion, motion, thickening and regional EF).
QPS - Quantitative Perfusion SPECT
In addition to cardiac parameters, such as chamber volume and wall area, this application provides perfusion analysis of ungated datasets by comparing rest and stress datasets to a database of normal values (also called normal limits) using statistical methods.
Compared to the Basic Perfusion SPECT bundle, this package adds the PlusPack module, providing serial change assessment, prone/supine perfusion quantification, shape index calculation, phase analysis, and powerpoint export.
This bundle also includes the CSI data management application and the Companion module (AHA 17-segment scoring, diastolic function, eccentricity).

Deluxe Perfusion + Blood Pool SPECT Bundle

This bundle includes the following applications and features:

QGS - Quantitative Gated SPECT
This application provides cardiac function quantitation using perfusion datasets: ED and ES volumes, ejection fraction. The image data can be viewed in a variety of modes, from selected slices in a 2D view to a rendered 3D surface of the myocardium with function maps (perfusion, motion, thickening and regional EF).
QPS - Quantitative Perfusion SPECT
In addition to cardiac parameters, such as chamber volume and wall area, this application provides perfusion analysis of ungated datasets by comparing rest and stress datasets to a database of normal values (also called normal limits) using statistical methods.
QBS - Quantitative Blood Pool SPECT
This application provides automatic quantitation of left- and right-ventricular function (ejection fraction, ED and ES volumes, stroke volumes) using gated blood pool SPECT images. It also displays motion polar maps and parametric surfaces.
Compared to the Basic Perfusion + Blood Pool SPECT bundle, this package adds the PlusPack module, providing serial change assessment, prone/supine perfusion quantification, shape index calculation, phase analysis, and powerpoint export.
This bundle also includes the CSI data management application and the Companion module (AHA 17-segment scoring, diastolic function, eccentricity).

Deluxe Perfusion PET Bundle

This bundle includes the following applications and features:

QGS-PET - Quantitative Gated PET
This application provides cardiac function quantitation using perfusion datasets: ED and ES volumes, ejection fraction. The image data can be viewed in a variety of modes, from selected slices in a 2D view to a rendered 3D surface of the myocardium with function maps (perfusion, motion, thickening and regional EF).
QPET - Quantitative PET
The new PET Kinetics module provides the calculation of Coronary Flow Reserve (CFR) and Myocardial Blood Flow (MBF).
This application also provides automatic segmentation, quantification and analysis of static and gated myocardial perfusion PET, with support for both short axis and transverse datasets.
This bundle is designed for the processing of PET data only and can be purchased at a substantial discount with a SPECT bundle for a complete PET/SPECT processing solution.
This bundle also includes the CSI data management application, the PlusPack module (serial change assessment, prone/supine perfusion quantification, shape index calculation, phase analysis, powerpoint export), the Fusion/CT module (3D display and automatic registration of coronary trees, fused image display), and the Companion module (AHA 17-segment scoring, diastolic function, eccentricity).

The Automated Report Generator (ARG) Add-On

ARG - Automated Report Generator
The Cedars-Sinai reporting system can substantially improve the workflow in your nuclear cardiology department. Its two components are Automated Report Generator (ARG) and QARG.
This add-on provides a reporting server, integration with QPS and QGS, as well as the standalone data entry tool QARG that can be used in the stress lab or anywhere else to enter patient demographics, ECG info, etc...

Automated Reconstruction (AutoRecon) Add-On

AutoRecon
This application offers several automatic processing modules for single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) studies.

This add-on provides a full-fledged reconstruction program with the following features:

  • automated reconstruction limits selection
  • automated motion correction
  • filtered backprojection and iterative reconstruction.
  • automatic reorientation of the transaxial data into short axis images

Breathe new life into your old camera by freeing yourself from antiquated workstations!

Motion Correction (MoCo) Add-On

MoCo - Motion Correction
This application provides automatic and manual correction of SPECT acquisition artifacts.

A cost effective solution to benefit from motion correction while using your workstation's reconstruction software.

What is in the Companion module?

The Companion includes several useful features that were added after the initial release of the quantitative cardiac suite. These features are:

  • AHA model 17-segment scoring
  • Eccentricity calculation: a measure of ventricular sphericity to assess ventricular remodeling
  • Diastolic function: ventricular filling and emptying parameters are extracted from interpolated time-volume curves

What is the Fusion/CT module?

The Fusion/CT module adds features related to coronary CT angiography (CTA) and multi-modality registration. These features are:

  • 3D display of coronary trees extracted by a variety of software packages
  • Automated registration of coronary trees (especially useful for non-hybrid systems)
  • Fused image display to assess or correct image registration (for CTA and attenuation CT data)

The Fusion/CT module is standard with the Deluxe PET bundle, and available as an option for SPECT bundles.

What is the Fusion/CT module?

The Fusion/CT module adds features related to coronary CT angiography (CTA) and multi-modality registration. These features are:

  • 3D display of coronary trees extracted by a variety of software packages
  • Automated registration of coronary trees (especially useful for non-hybrid systems)
  • Fused image display to assess or correct image registration (for CTA and attenuation CT data)

The Fusion/CT module is standard with the Deluxe PET bundle, and available as an option for SPECT bundles.

What is the CSI data browser?

Our software packages are designed to be installed on your computer, not on vendor workstations. To use the quantitative applications studies need to be transferred from your acquisition systems to your computer with the Cedars-Sinai software.

CSI allows you to transfer studies and manages the datasets on your computer. Its main features include:

  • Pull data from DICOM Query/Retrieve and FTP servers as well as legacy systems
  • Push data from DICOM systems to your computer
  • Import data from CDs or other removable media, or from a network share
  • Simple, intuitive data management lets you organize data in folders to manage clinical and research projects
  • One-click anonymized mode hides patient identification so you can use the software in interactive lectures

Click here to open a new page with video tutorials about some of these features.