Energy window optimization in bremsstrahlung imaging after Yttrium-90 microsphere therapy

Abstract

In imaging of Yttrium-90 patients treated hepatic primary and metastatic cancers, bremsstrahlung photons produced in a wide energy range is used. However, the image quality depends on acquisition energy window. This research aimed energy window optimization for Yttrium-90 bremsstrahlung imaging and 48 patients with various types of cancer received radioembolization therapy were investigated. Patients were imaged using a GE Healthcare Optima NM/CT 640 series gamma camera system with a medium energy general-purpose (MEGP) collimator and planar images were acquired with 8 different energy windows in the 55–400 keV energy range. The data set, formed with the % FOV, contrast, and spatial resolution of image quality parameters calculated from these images, was statistically examined with ANOVA and Tukey tests. According to the visual evaluations and ANOVA/Tukey test results, it was statistically concluded that energy window of 90–110 keV is the optimal energy window while 60–400 keV energy ranges show the lowest image quality for Y-90 bremsstrahlung imaging.