Development of a quantitative autoradiography image analysis system

A low cost image analysis system suitable for quantitative autoradiography (QAR) analysis has been developed. Autoradiographs can be digitized using a conventional Newvicon television camera interfaced to an IBM-XT microcomputer. Software routines for image digitization and capture permit the acquisition of thresholded or windowed images with graphic overlays that can be stored on storage devices. Image analysis software performs all background and non-linearity corrections prior to display as black/white or pseudocolor images. The relationship of pixel intensity to a standard radionuclide concentration allows the production of quantitative maps of tissue radiotracer concentrations. An easily modified subroutine is provided for adaptation to use appropriate operational equations when parameters such as regional cerebral blood flow or regional cerebral glucose metabolism are under investigation. This system could provide smaller research laboratories with the capability of QAR analysis at relatively low cost.