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Evaluation of a Sensitive Visual Read Algorithm for Assessing 3R/4R Tau PET Images
Ruben A Smith, Valentina Garibotto, Douglas Hägerström, Jonas Jögi, Tomas G. Ohlsson, Olof T. Strandberg, Mattéo Tonietto, Shorena Janelidze et al.. Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 2025-09-04
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Both visual read methods exhibited strong concordance with semiquantitative SUVRs. However, the BF-VR method demonstrated superior accuracy for tau in the ERC (93.9%; 95% CI, 92.6%–95.0%) compared with the FTP-VR method (89.9%; 95% CI, 88.3%–91.3%; P < 0.0001). The BF-VRs displayed lower accuracy when detecting tau in the temporal meta-region of interest (91.8%; 95% CI, 90.4%–93.1%) compared with the FTP-VRs (94.7%; 95% CI, 93.6%–95.8%; P = 0.002). Further, the BF-VRs exhibited similar accuracy (0.866; 95% CI, 0.847–0.884) to the FTP-VRs (0.857; 95% CI, 0.837–0.875; P = 0.54) for detection of p-tau217 abnormality. The interrater reliability of the BF-VR algorithm was excellent (weighted Cohen κ, 0.87; range, 0.82–0.93), and intrarater reliability was almost perfect (Cohen κ, 0.94; range, 0.89–0.98). The concordance of the BF-VR assessments of [18F]RO948 and [18F]flortaucipir images was excellent (Cohen κ, 0.94; range, 0.86–1.00). Visual reads offer a straightforward method for evaluating tau PET scans. The BF-VR algorithm provides a more accurate algorithm for detecting tau uptake in the ERC compared with the established FTP-VR algorithm and exhibits similar performance when using [18F]RO948 and [18F]flortaucipir images. The BF-VR algorithm further showed excellent interrater and intrarater reliabilities.
Key findings
- Both visual read methods exhibited strong concordance with semiquantitative SUVRs.
- However, the BF-VR method demonstrated superior accuracy for tau in the ERC (93.9%; 95% CI, 92.6%–95.0%) compared with the FTP-VR method (89.9%; 95% CI, 88.3%–91.3%; P < 0.0001).
- The BF-VRs displayed lower accuracy when detecting tau in the temporal meta-region of interest (91.8%; 95% CI, 90.4%–93.1%) compared with the FTP-VRs (94.7%; 95% CI, 93.6%–95.8%; P = 0.002).
- Further, the BF-VRs exhibited similar accuracy (0.866; 95% CI, 0.847–0.884) to the FTP-VRs (0.857; 95% CI, 0.837–0.875; P = 0.54) for detection of p-tau217 abnormality.
- The interrater reliability of the BF-VR algorithm was excellent (weighted Cohen κ, 0.87; range, 0.82–0.93), and intrarater reliability was almost perfect (Cohen κ, 0.94; range, 0.89–0.98).
Why it matters
A visual read algorithm called BF-VR detected tau in the entorhinal cortex more accurately than the established FTP-VR method, though it was less accurate in the temporal meta-region, and it showed excellent reliability. This is a method for reading tau-PET scans, not a treatment, cure, or prevention.
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Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Participants1,654
- Effect size93.9%; 92.6%; 95.0%
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 52/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Nuclear Medicine) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Nuclear Medicine: journal h-index 230 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 1,654 participants |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 0 / 7 | Cited 0 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 0 / 6 | Cited 0.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Oskar Hansson: h-index 148 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Lund University: institution h-index 1,119 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40908124) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 52 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.125.269685
- PubMed: 40908124
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Nuclear Medicine →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Smith, R. A., Garibotto, V., Hägerström, D., Jögi, J., Ohlsson, T. G., Strandberg, O. T., et al. (2025). Evaluation of a Sensitive Visual Read Algorithm for Assessing 3R/4R Tau PET Images. Journal of Nuclear Medicine. https://doi.org/10.2967/jnumed.125.269685
Vancouver
Smith RA, Garibotto V, Hägerström D, Jögi J, Ohlsson TG, Strandberg OT, et al. Evaluation of a Sensitive Visual Read Algorithm for Assessing 3R/4R Tau PET Images. Journal of Nuclear Medicine. 2025. doi:10.2967/jnumed.125.269685. PMID: 40908124.
BibTeX
@article{smith2025-40908124,
author = {Smith, Ruben A and Garibotto, Valentina and Hägerström, Douglas and Jögi, Jonas and Ohlsson, Tomas G. and Strandberg, Olof T. and Tonietto, Mattéo and Janelidze, Shorena and others},
title = {{Evaluation of a Sensitive Visual Read Algorithm for Assessing 3R/4R Tau PET Images}},
journal = {Journal of Nuclear Medicine},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.2967/jnumed.125.269685},
pmid = {40908124},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2967/jnumed.125.269685}
}
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