Practical Guide to Interpreting Radis PET-CT Results for Clinicians

Practical Guide to Interpreting Radis PET-CT Results for Clinicians

Overview

Radis PET-CT is a DICOM viewer focused on PET-CT visualization with fusion display and SUV measurement tools (commonly used for research/education). This guide covers a practical, step-by-step approach to reading Radis PET-CT studies and integrating findings into clinical decisions.

1) Pre‑read checklist

• Confirm patient identifiers, study date/time, and tracer (e.g., FDG).
• Verify acquisition parameters: injected activity, uptake time, scanner type, and reconstruction method—these affect SUV comparability.
• Check for artifacts: motion, attenuation correction errors, metal implants, or misregistration between PET and CT.

2) Viewing setup in Radis

• Use fused PET/CT axial, coronal, sagittal views for anatomical localization.
• Open MIP (maximum intensity projection) to quickly survey for abnormal focal uptake.
• Adjust PET window/level to visualize lesions of varying intensity; use consistent settings when comparing serial scans.
• Display SUVs on fusion images and enable crosshair synchronization across planes.

3) Systematic reading sequence

1. Survey MIP for unexpected sites of uptake.
2. Examine whole-body fused series from skull base to mid-thigh (or as acquired).
3. Correlate focal PET uptake with CT anatomy to distinguish physiologic from pathologic uptake.
4. Measure SUVs: place ellipsoid ROI for SUVmax (Radis supports ellipsoid ROIs). Record SUVpeak/SUVmax and ROI size.
5. Assess CT for morphologic correlates (mass, lymphadenopathy, bone lesion, necrosis, calcification).
6. Evaluate background organs (brain, myocardium, liver, spleen, bowel, urinary tract) to contextualize abnormal uptake.