Quantitative assessment of DaTQUANT in diagnosis of DaTscan patients

Objectives Retrospectively assess the quantitative benefit of DaTQUANT; a program that mathematically calculates the ratios of the basal ganglia in DaTscan studies.

Methods 149 DaTscan patients from, July 2011-Sept 2012, were analyzed through DaTQUANT and evaluated to see how DaTQUANT ratios (DR) matched our physician readings. Ratios were statistically analyzed to determine if a correlation between the DR and interpretation exists. Studies where the physician's reading differed from the DR were re-evaluated with the physician to determine if the DR would have impacted the interpretation.

Results 45.6% of patients were read as normal, with an average DR of 2.06. These DRs were analyzed and found to be significant with a p-value of 0.0253. 51% of patients were read as abnormal, with an average DR of 0.85. These DRs were analyzed and found to be significant with a p-value of 0.00005. 3.4% were read as equivocal with an average DR of 1.5. These DRs were analyzed and found not to be significant with a p-value of 0.9865. Based on further review of the data, DRs between 1.05-2.04 had a low correlation to physician interpretation, 40.3% of patients fell in this range.

Conclusions Analysis showed significant correlation of DRs in both the normal and abnormal patient populations. The DRs for patients with an equivocal read did not correlate. Patients with DRs between 1.05 - 2.04 had uncorrelated interpretations. 40.3% of DRs fell in this 1.05 - 2.04 range undermining the usefulness of DRs. History, age, and symmetrical uptake between basal ganglia were considered more useful to aid in the diagnosis of patients especially in the range described above. No patients’ interpretations were changed based on DRs.