Peformance evaluation of preclinical PET scanners with the NEMA NU-4 image quality phantom using a collection of radioisotopes
Loading...
Date
2013-04-13
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Abstract
Background: The radioisotopes 18F, 11C, 124I, 68Ga, 89Zr and 64Cu have found numerous applications in small animal PET imaging, and this entire subset of isotopes will soon be available to Australian preclinical researchers. The suitability of an isotope for a given imaging application is determined largely by its radioactive half-life. However, other characteristic physical properties of the isotope such as the branching fraction and positron energy can severely impact image quality and the ability to accurately quantify uptake of the radio-labelled molecule. Furthermore, the specific acquisition parameters and reconstruction algorithms employed to generate the image can significantly affect the image quality and quantification accuracy.
The NEMA NU-4 2008 standards describe a method to evaluate the performance of small animal PET scanners. The information gathered through the NEMA Image Quality phantom scanning experiment is valuable for optimising the scanner usage, because it allows for the best selection of acquisition/reconstruction protocols and provides knowledge of the resolution limits of the system.
Method: NEMA NU-4 image quality phantom performance testing was performed on the Siemens Inveon with 18F, 124I and 64Cu, using default acquisition parameters and each of the available reconstruction algorithms. Further testing will be performed using 11C, 68Ga and 89Zr. The Bioscan NanoPET scanner will be tested with all of the mentioned isotopes.
Results: The figure shows NU-4 phantom images obtained for 18F, 64Cu and 124I; using the Inveon preclinical scanner and FBP2D reconstruction. The relatively poor image quality obtained with 124I is mainly caused by single gamma-photon contamination. Due to a higher positron range, recovery coefficients obtained with 124I are well below the values measured with 18F. Conclusion: NEMA NU-4 performance testing provides valuable information about the image quality achievable for a given PET scanner and radioisotope. © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Description
Open Access
Keywords
Positron computed tomography, Radioisotope scanning, Animals, Biological half-life, Isotopes, Fluorine 18, Images
Citation
Nezich, R., Reilhac, A., Zahra, D., & Price, R. (2013). Peformance evaluation of preclinical PET scanners with the NEMA NU-4 image quality phantom using a collection of radioisotopes. Poster presented at the 43rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine (ANZSNM), 11-15 April, 2013, Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, Perth Australia. In Internal Medicine Journal, 43 (S1), 23. doi:10.1111/imj.12133