Abstract
This work aims to evaluate the quality control program for small animal PET (positron emission tomography) scanners in Brazil. A questionnaire focused on type of small animal PET scanner and quality assurance program was prepared and sent to all Brazilian preclinical molecular imaging services that participated in the first Brazilian microPET/SPECT/CT users meeting held at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. The answers were compiled and descriptive statistic was applied. There are six preclinical molecular imaging services using PET scanner in Brazil. Five are in the southeastern region and one in the southern region. All services have a single PET device, but most of them have hybrids modalities with CT (computed tomography) and/or SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography). All services have knowledge of the NEMA NU 4-2008 publication specific to small animal PET equipments. However, most of them do not have a quality assurance program in place for their imaging systems. There are few preclinical PET devices installed in Brazil and most of them are located at southeastern region. Regardless the absence of quality assurance program in many of the services, there is a consensus on the importance of quality control program implementation.
Highlights
Positron emission tomography (PET) is an important molecular imaging modality
This study revealed small-animal PET systems available in Brazil, as well as, information around feasibility of evaluating the performance of these imaging systems
In spite of the radioisotope production capacity and growing demand for new radiopharmaceuticals for clinical use in Brazil, this study reveals that only six preclinical PET scanners may be insufficient to supply the diversity of pathologies that require diagnosis and/or follow-up
Summary
Its application on preclinical research has been increased in the last decades as a valuable tool for studying animal models of human disease and to contribute to the development of new radiopharmaceuticals or in studies of new applications of traditional radiopharmaceuticals [1]. Small-animal PET refers to imaging of animals such as rats and mice using specific PET scanner. Because of widespread use and commercial availability of preclinical PET scanners, the National Electrical Manufactures Association (NEMA) published its NU 4/2008 standards, a consistent and standardized methodology for measuring scanner performance parameters for smallanimal PET imaging [2]. In agreement with NEMA NU 4/2008 publication, PET performance should be evaluated by the following parameters [2]: i) Spatial Resolution; ii) Sensitivity; iii) Coincidence Events Rate; and iv) Image Quality. The NEMA NU 4/2008 presents all the methodological parameters and needs for the small-animals PET quality control
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