Abstract
BackgroundEvaluate the physical performance of the VERITON CzT camera (Spectrum Dynamics, Caesarea, Israel) that benefits from new detection architecture enabling whole-body imaging compared to that of a conventional dual-head Anger camera.MethodsDifferent line sources and phantom measurements were performed on each system to evaluate spatial resolution, sensitivity, energy resolution and image quality with acquisition and reconstruction parameters similar to those used in clinical routine. Extrinsic resolution was assessed using 99mTc capillary sources placed successively in air, in a head and in a body phantom filled with background activity. Spectral acquisitions for various radioelements used in nuclear medicine (99mTc, 123I, 201Tl, 111In) were performed to evaluate energy resolution by computing the FWHM of the measured photoelectric peak. Tomographic sensitivity was calculated by recording the total number of counts detected during tomographic acquisition for a set of source geometries representative of different clinical situations. Sensitivity was also evaluated in focus mode for the CzT camera, which consisted of forcing detectors to collect data in a reduced field-of-view. Image quality was assessed with a Jaszczak phantom filled with 350 MBq of 99mTc and scanned on each system with 30-,20-,10- and 5-min acquisition times.ResultsExtrinsic and tomographic resolution in the brain and body phantoms at the centre of the FOV was estimated at 3.55, 7.72 and 6.66 mm for the CzT system and 2.47, 7.75 and 7.72 mm for the conventional system, respectively. The energy resolution measured at 140 keV was 5.46% versus 9.21% for the Anger camera and was higher in a same manner for all energy peaks tested. Tomographic sensitivity for a point source in air was estimated at 236 counts·s−1·MBq−1 and increased to 1159 counts·s−1·MBq−1 using focus mode, which was 1.6 times and 8 times greater than the sensitivity measured on the scintillation camera (144 counts·s−1·MBq−1). Head and body measurements also showed higher sensitivity for the CzT camera in particular with focus mode. The Jaszczak phantom showed high image contrast uniformity and a high signal-to-noise ratio on the CzT system, even when decreasing acquisition time by 6-fold. Representative clinical cases are shown to illustrate these results.ConclusionThe CzT camera has a superior sensitivity, higher energy resolution and better image contrast than the conventional SPECT camera, whereas spatial resolution remains similar. Introduction of this new technology may change current practices in nuclear medicine such as decreasing acquisition time and activity injected to patient.
Highlights
Evaluate the physical performance of the VERITON Cadmium zinc telluride (CzT) camera (Spectrum Dynamics, Caesarea, Israel) that benefits from new detection architecture enabling whole-body imaging compared to that of a conventional dual-head Anger camera
CzT camera All tests were performed on the first VERITON camera (Spectrum Dynamics, Caesarea, Israel) commercially available (FDA and EU clearance was obtained for the present study), installed at the University Hospital of Caen, France
The maximum full width at half maximum (FWHM) obtained at the convergence of the reconstruction algorithm on the CzT camera for the three-line sources placed at 0, 4.5 and 9 cm from the centre of the camera was 3.54, 3.58 and 3.59 mm, respectively, in the radial direction
Summary
Evaluate the physical performance of the VERITON CzT camera (Spectrum Dynamics, Caesarea, Israel) that benefits from new detection architecture enabling whole-body imaging compared to that of a conventional dual-head Anger camera. Dedicated cardiac CzT-based cameras have been commercially available for a decade. These cameras have a higher sensitivity and better energy resolution than Anger cameras [1,2,3,4]. GE Healthcare was the first manufacturer to commercialize such a multi-purpose CzT camera [10] This camera is equipped to an Anger camera with two large, flat detectors, keeping the same detection geometry as conventional SPECT systems. Spectrum Dynamics has unveiled a new camera architecture with a ring-configuration CzT detector. The latter has been previously described by Goshen et al [11]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
