Nathaniel helps progress the case for the application of advanced imaging in brain cancer treatment

ACQI-affiliated PhD student Nathaniel Barry has authored a study published in the European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging which sets the scene for quantitative evaluation of the use of advanced radiotracers in the treatment of glioblastoma (GBM – high-grade glioma). Nathaniel coordinated the analysis of multi-clinician assessment of “FET PET” imaging for GBM, an imaging tracer that is currently being investigated in the national multi-centre “FIG” trial. Nuclear Medicine Physicians accruing participants to the trial were asked to assess a series of sample patient imaging datasets, with those assessments forming crucial components of each participant’s treatment and follow-up processes. Nathaniel was able to reveal where the inconsistencies occurred in such assessments, and that such inconsistencies were reduced through appropriate feedback to clinicians, greatly increasing the quality of treatments being offered to GBM patients. Nathaniel has also been able to quantify the impact of inter-clinician variability in image interpretation. This information will inform the modelling to be performed on imaging data acquired during the trial, and which will be use to optimise the use of FET PET in future patient treatments.