Abstract
BackgroundA newly introduced PET/CT scanner (Discovery Meaningful Insights—DMI, GE Healthcare) includes the silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) with time-of-flight (TOF) technology first used in the GE SIGNA PET/MRI. In this study, we investigated the impact of various acquisition times on image quality using this SiPM-based PET/CT.MethodsWe reviewed data from 58 participants with cancer who were scanned using the DMI PET/CT scanner. The administered dosages ranged 295.3–429.9 MBq (mean ± SD 356.3 ± 37.4) and imaging started at 71–142 min (mean ± SD 101.41 ± 17.52) after administration of the radiopharmaceutical. The patients’ BMI ranged 19.79–46.16 (mean ± SD 26.55 ± 5.53). We retrospectively reconstructed the raw TOF data at 30, 60, 90, and 120 s/bed and at the standard image acquisition time per clinical protocol (180 or 210 s/bed depending on BMI). Each reconstruction was reviewed blindly by two nuclear medicine physicians and scored 1–5 (1—poor, 5—excellent quality). The liver signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was used as a quantitative measure of image quality.ResultsThe average scores ± SD of the readers were 2.61 ± 0.83, 3.70 ± 0.92, 4.36 ± 0.82, 4.82 ± 0.39, and 4.91 ± 0.91 for the 30, 60, 90, and 120 s/bed and at standard acquisition time, respectively. Inter-reader agreement on image quality assessment was good, with a weighted kappa of 0.80 (95% CI 0.72–0.81). In the evaluation of the effects of time per bed acquisition on semi-quantitative measurements, we found that the only time point significantly different from the standard time were 30 and 60 s (both with P < 0.001). The effects of dose and BMI were not statistically significant (P = 0.195 and 0.098, respectively). There was a significant positive effect of time on SNR (P < 0.001), as well as a significant negative effect of weight (P < 0.001).ConclusionsOur results suggest that despite significant delays from injection to imaging (due to comparison with standard PET/CT) compared to standard clinical operations and even in a population with average BMI > 25, images can be acquired as fast as 90 s/bed using the SiPM PET/CT and still result in very good image quality (average score > 4).
Highlights
A newly introduced Positron emission tomography (PET)/CT scanner (Discovery Meaningful Insights—DMI, GE Healthcare) includes the silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) with timeof-flight (TOF) technology first used in the GE SIGNA PET/MRI
Our study suggests that the SiPM technology and TOF reconstruction implemented in the DMI PET/CT scanner allow reduction of PET acquisition time to 90 s/bed, while still producing very good image quality
The most attractive advantages derived from the use of SiPM-based PET/CT over standard PET/CT are a reduction in required administered dosage of PET radiopharmaceuticals, higher sensitivity and temporal resolution
Summary
A newly introduced PET/CT scanner (Discovery Meaningful Insights—DMI, GE Healthcare) includes the silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) with timeof-flight (TOF) technology first used in the GE SIGNA PET/MRI. After initial use as PET alone, the first hybrid PET/CT scanner was introduced and evaluated clinically in 2000 [4]. Simultaneous PET/MRI scanners have been developed with the expectation to improve workflows and clinical usefulness in those fields where the properties of MRI are valuable [7,8,9,10]. Such combined and simultaneous scanners required remarkable modifications in PET technology over the years to move away from photomultiplier tubes
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