Effective Scatter Source Estimation Research Articles

Evaluation of quantitative accuracy among different scatter corrections for quantitative bone SPECT/CT imaging.

Although scatter correction improves SPECT image contrast and thus image quality, the effects of quantitation accuracy under various conditions remain unclear. The present study aimed to empirically define the conditions for the optimal scatter correction of quantitative bone SPECT/CT images. Scatter correction was performed by applying dual and triple energy windows (DEW and TEW) with different sub-energy window widths, and effective scatter source estimation (ESSE) to CT-based scatter correction. Scattered radiation was corrected on images acquired using a triple line source (TLSP) phantom and an uniform cylinder phantom. The TLSP consisted of a line source containing 74.0 MBq of 99mTc in the middle, and a background component containing air, water or a K2HPO4 solution with a density equivalent to that of bone. The sum of all pixels in air, water and the K2HPO4 solution was measured on SPECT images. Scatter fraction (SF) and normalized mean square error (NMSE) based on counts from the air background as a reference were then calculated to assess quantitative errors due to scatter correction. The uniform cylinder phantom contained the same K2HPO4 solution and 222.0 MBq of 99mTc. The coefficient of variation (CV) was calculated from the count profile of this phantom to assess the uniformity of SPECT images across scatter correction under various conditions. Both SF and NMSE in SPECT images of phantoms containing water in the background were lower at a TEW sub-window of 3% (TEW3%), than in other scatter corrections, whereas those in K2HPO4 were lower at a DEW sub-window of 20% (DEW20%). Larger DEW and smaller TEW sub-energy windows allowed more effective correction. The CV of the uniform cylinder phantom, DEW20%, was inferior to all other tested scatter corrections. The quantitative accuracy of bone SPECT images substantially differed according to the method of scatter correction. The optimal scatter correction for quantitative bone SPECT was DEW20% (k = 1), but at the cost of slightly decreased image uniformity.

The effect of attenuation map, scatter energy window width, and volume of interest on the calibration factor calculation in quantitative 177Lu SPECT imaging: Simulation and phantom study

PurposeThe objective of this study was to evaluate the image degrading factors in quantitative 177Lu SPECT imaging when using both main gamma photopeak energies. MethodsPhantom measurements with two different vials containing various calibrated activities in air or water were performed to derive a mean calibration factor (CF) for large and small volumes of interest (VOIs). In addition, Monte Carlo simulations were utilized to investigate the effect of scatter energy window width, scatter correction method, such as effective scatter source estimation (ESSE) and triple energy window (TEW), and attenuation map on the quantification of 177Lu. Results: The measured mean CF using large and small VOIs in water was 4.50 ± 0.80 and 4.80 ± 0.72 cps MBq−1, respectively. Simulations showed a reference CF of 3.3 cps MBq−1 for the water-filled phantom considering all photons excluding scattered events. By using the attenuation map generated for 190 keV photons, the calculated CFs for 113 keV and 208 keV are 10% lower than by using the weighted mean energy of 175 keV for 177Lu. The calculated CF using the TEW correction was 17% higher than using the ESSE method for a water-filled phantom. However, our findings showed that an appropriate scatter window combination can reduce this difference between TEW and ESSE methods. ConclusionsThe present work implies that choosing a suitable width of scatter energy windows can reduce uncertainties in radioactivity quantification. It is suggested to generate the attenuation map at 113 keV and 208 keV, separately. Furthermore, using small VOIs is suggested in CF calculation.

SU‐F‐J‐08: Quantitative SPECT Imaging of Ra‐223 in a Phantom

Purpose:Ra‐223 therapy of prostate cancer bone metastases is being used to treat patients routinely. However, the absorbed dose distribution at the macroscopic and microscopic scales remains elusive, due to the inability to image the small activities injected. Accurate activity quantification through imaging is essential to calculate the absorbed dose in organs and sub‐units in radiopharmaceutical therapy, enabling personalized absorbed dose‐based treatment planning methodologies and more effective and optimal treatments.Methods:A 22 cm diameter by 20 cm long cylindrical phantom, containing a 3.52 cm diameter sphere, was used. A total of 2.01 MBq of Ra‐223 was placed in the phantom with 177.6 kBq in the sphere. Images were acquired on a dual‐head Siemens Symbia T16 gamma camera using three 20% full‐width energy windows and centered at 84, 154, and 269 keV (120 projections, 360° rotation, 45 s per view). We have implemented reconstruction of Ra‐223 SPECT projections using OS‐EM (up to 20 iterations of 10 subsets) with compensation for attenuation using CT‐based attenuation maps, collimator‐detector response (CDR) (including septal penetration, scatter and Pb x‐ray modeling), and scatter in the patient using the effective source scatter estimation (ESSE) method. The CDR functions and scatter kernels required for ESSE were computed using the SIMIND MC simulation code. All Ra‐223 photon emissions as well as gamma rays from the daughters Rn‐219 and Bi‐211 were modeled.Results:The sensitivity of the camera in the three combined windows was 107.3 cps/MBq. The visual quality of the SPECT images was reasonably good and the activity in the sphere was 27% smaller than the true activity. This underestimation is likely due to partial volume effect.Conclusion:Absolute quantitative Ra‐223 SPECT imaging is achievable with careful attention to compensate for image degrading factors and system calibration.

Simultaneous Tc-99m/I-123 dual-radionuclide myocardial perfusion/innervation imaging using Siemens IQ-SPECT with SMARTZOOM collimator

Simultaneous dual-radionuclide myocardial perfusion/innervation SPECT imaging can provide important information about the mismatch between scar tissue and denervated regions. The Siemens IQ-SPECT system developed for cardiac imaging uses a multifocal SMARTZOOM collimator to achieve a four-fold sensitivity for the cardiac region, compared to a typical parallel-hole low-energy high-resolution collimator, but without the data truncation that can result with conventional converging-beam collimators. The increased sensitivity allows shorter image acquisition times or reduced patient dose, making IQ-SPECT ideal for simultaneous dual-radionuclide SPECT, where reduced administrated activity is desirable in order to reduce patient radiation exposure. However, crosstalk is a major factor affecting the image quality in dual-radionuclide imaging. In this work we developed a model-based method that can estimate and compensate for the crosstalk in IQ-SPECT data. The crosstalk model takes into account interactions in the object and collimator-detector system. Scatter in the object was modeled using the effective source scatter estimation technique (ESSE), previously developed to model scatter with parallel-hole collimators. The geometric collimator-detector response was analytically modeled in the IQ-SPECT projector. The estimated crosstalk was then compensated for in an iterative reconstruction process. The new method was validated with data from both Monte Carlo simulations and physical phantom experiments. The results showed that the estimated crosstalk was in good agreement with simulated and measured results. After model-based compensation the images from simultaneous dual-radionuclide acquisitions were similar in quality to those from single-radionuclide acquisitions that did not have crosstalk contamination. The proposed model-based method can be used to improve simultaneous dual-radionuclide images acquired using IQ-SPECT. This work also demonstrates that ESSE scatter modeling can be applied to non-parallel-beam projection geometries.

Improving quantitative dosimetry in 177Lu-DOTATATE SPECT by energy window-based scatter corrections

PurposePatient-specific dosimetry of lutetium-177 (177Lu)-DOTATATE treatment in neuroendocrine tumours is important, because uptake differs across patients. Single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT)-based dosimetry requires a conversion factor between the obtained counts and the activity, which depends on the collimator type, the utilized energy windows and the applied scatter correction techniques. In this study, energy window subtraction-based scatter correction methods are compared experimentally and quantitatively.Materials and methods177Lu SPECT images of a phantom with known activity concentration ratio between the uniform background and filled hollow spheres were acquired for three different collimators: low-energy high resolution (LEHR), low-energy general purpose (LEGP) and medium-energy general purpose (MEGP). Counts were collected in several energy windows, and scatter correction was performed by applying different methods such as effective scatter source estimation (ESSE), triple-energy and dual-energy window, double-photopeak window and downscatter correction. The intensity ratio between the spheres and the background was measured and corrected for the partial volume effect and used to compare the performance of the methods.ResultsLow-energy collimators combined with 208 keV energy windows give rise to artefacts. For the 113 keV energy window, large differences were observed in the ratios for the spheres. For MEGP collimators with the ESSE correction technique, the measured ratio was close to the real ratio, and the differences between spheres were small.ConclusionFor quantitative 177Lu imaging MEGP collimators are advised. Both energy peaks can be utilized when the ESSE correction technique is applied. The difference between the calculated and the real ratio is less than 10% for both energy windows.

A comparison of different energy window subtraction methods to correct for scatter and downscatter in I-123 SPECT imaging

One of the main problems in quantification of single photon emission computer tomography imaging is scatter. In iodine-123 (I-123) imaging, both the primary 159 keV photons and photons of higher energies are scattered. In this experimental study, different scatter correction methods, based on energy window subtraction, have been compared with each other. Iodine-123 single photon emission computed tomography images of a phantom with a known intensity ratio between background and hollow spheres were acquired for three different collimators (low energy high resolution, low energy general purpose, and medium energy general purpose). The hollow spheres were filled with a higher activity concentration than the uniform background activity concentration, resulting in hot spots. Counts were collected in different energy windows, and scatter correction was performed by applying different methods such as effective scatter source estimation, triple and dual energy window (TEW and DEW), double peak window (DPW) and downscatter correction. The intensity ratio between the spheres and the background was used to compare the performance of the different methods. The results revealed that the efficiency of the scatter correction techniques vary depending on the collimator used. For the low energy high resolution collimator, all correction methods except the effective scatter source estimation and the DPW perform well. For the medium energy general purpose collimator, even without scatter correction, the calculated ratio is close to the real ratio. The DEW and DPW methods tend to overestimate the ratio. For the low energy general purpose collimator, only the DEW and the combined DEW and downscatter correction methods perform well. The only correction method that provides a ratio that differs by less than 5% from the real ratio for all the collimators is the combined DEW and downscatter correction method.

心筋SPECT検査におけるcollimator detector response(CDR)補正とeffective scatter source estimation(ESSE)法による散乱線補正の有用性

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the collimator detector response (CDR) recovery and the effective scatter source estimation (ESSE) method which is the scatter correction method built into the ordered subsets expectation maximization (OSEM) method. The SPECT quality evaluation phantom and the anthropomorphic torso phantom were used in this study, and image contrast and uniformity were evaluated. The effect of each image correction method on the quantification of absolute radioactivity was also assessed. Image contrast and uniformity were improved with the combination of the CDR recovery and triple energy window (TEW) method or the ESSE method. The combination of the CDR recovery and the ESSE method was the best method for the estimation of absolute radioactivity. Image quality of the SPECT is improved by the combination of CDR recovery and scatter correction in addition to attenuation correction. CDR recovery in addition to attenuation and scatter correction is also useful for the quantification of absolute radioactivity.

Model-based crosstalk compensation for simultaneous Tc99m∕I123 dual-isotope brain SPECT imaging.

In this work, we developed a model-based method to estimate and compensate for the crosstalk contamination in simultaneous I123 and Tc99m dual isotope brain single photo emission computed tomography imaging. The model-based crosstalk compensation (MBCC) includes detailed modeling of photon interactions inside both the object and the detector system. In the method, scatter in the object is modeled using the effective source scatter estimation technique, including contributions from all the photon emissions. The effects of the collimator-detector response, including the penetration and scatter components due to high-energy I123 photons, are modeled using pre-calculated tables of Monte Carlo simulated point-source response functions obtained from sources in air at various distances from the face of the collimator. The model-based crosstalk estimation method was combined with iterative reconstruction based compensation to reduce contamination due to crosstalk. The MBCC method was evaluated using Monte Carlo simulated and physical phantom experimentally acquired simultaneous dual-isotope data. Results showed that, for both experimental and simulation studies, the model-based method provided crosstalk estimates that were in good agreement with the true crosstalk. Compensation using MBCC improved image contrast and removed the artifacts for both Monte Carlo simulated and experimentally acquired data. The results were in good agreement with images acquired without any crosstalk contamination.

Correction for scatter and septal penetration using convolution subtraction methods and model-based compensation in 123I brain SPECT imaging—a Monte Carlo study

Scatter and septal penetration deteriorate contrast and quantitative accuracy in single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). In this study four different correction techniques for scatter and septal penetration are evaluated for 123I brain SPECT. One of the methods is a form of model-based compensation which uses the effective source scatter estimation (ESSE) for modelling scatter, and collimator–detector response (CDR) including both geometric and penetration components. The other methods, which operate on the 2D projection images, are convolution scatter subtraction (CSS) and two versions of transmission dependent convolution subtraction (TDCS), one of them proposed by us. This method uses CSS for correction for septal penetration, with a separate kernel, and TDCS for scatter correction. The corrections are evaluated for a dopamine transporter (DAT) study and a study of the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), performed with 123I. The images are produced using a recently developed Monte Carlo collimator routine added to the program SIMIND which can include interactions in the collimator. The results show that the method included in the iterative reconstruction is preferable to the other methods and that the new TDCS version gives better results compared with the other 2D methods.

Model-based compensation for quantitative 123I brain SPECT imaging

Previously we have developed a model-based method that can accurately estimate downscatter contamination from high-energy photons in 123I imaging. In this work we combined the model-based method with iterative reconstruction-based compensations for other image-degrading factors such as attenuation, scatter, the collimator-detector response function (CDRF) and partial volume effects to form a comprehensive method for performing quantitative 123I SPECT image reconstruction. In the model-based downscatter estimation method, photon scatter inside the object was modelled using the effective source scatter estimation (ESSE) technique, including contributions from all the photon emissions. The CDRFs, including the penetration and scatter components due to the high-energy 123I photons, were estimated using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of point sources in air at various distances from the face of the collimator. The downscatter contamination was then compensated for during the iterative reconstruction by adding the estimated results to the projection steps. The model-based downscatter compensation (MBDC) was evaluated using MC simulated and experimentally acquired projection data. From the MC simulation, we found about 39% of the total counts in the energy window of 123I were attributed to the downscatter contamination, which reduced image contrast and caused a 1.5% to 10% overestimation of activities in various brain structures. Model-based estimates of the downscatter contamination were in good agreement with the simulated data. Compensation using MBDC removed the contamination and improved the image contrast and quantitative accuracy to that of the images obtained from 159 keV photons. The errors in absolute quantitation were reduced to within ±3.5%. The striatal specific binding potential calculated based on the activity ratio to the background was also improved after MBDC. The errors were reduced from −4.5% to −10.93% without compensation to −0.55% to 4.87% after compensation. The model-based method provided accurate downscatter estimation and, when combined with iterative reconstruction-based compensations, accurate quantitation was obtained with minimal loss of precision.

Evaluation of scatter compensation strategies and their impact on human detection performance Tc-99m myocardial perfusion imaging

Human-observer receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) results with clinical patient studies indicate that ordered-subset expectation-maximization (OSEM) reconstructions with a combination of corrections for attenuation, scatter, and distance-dependent resolution (DDR) significantly improves perfusion defect detection accuracy over filtered back-projection (FBP) images with no compensation. A recent Monte Carlo study has also shown that for scatter correction (SC) in particular, selection of an appropriate strategy can impact cardiac uniformity. The spatial domain based effective source scatter estimation (ESSE) technique was shown to provide more robust performance in improving cardiac uniformity than the triple-energy window (TEW) method. In this work, we investigate if further improvements in observer performance could be obtained by using the ESSE method of SC instead of the currently employed TEW SC, in combination with attenuation correction (AC) and resolution compensation (RC). We evaluated the effectiveness of the ESSE method to provide additional improvements in image quality objectively by using human-observer ROC studies on clinically acquired patient acquisitions. Results indicate that both ESSE and TEW SC in combination with AC and RC provide significantly higher detection accuracy than FBP with no compensation for the overall detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) as well as in localizing perfusion defects in the left anterior descending (LAD) and left circumflex (LCx) territories. Comparing, the two implementations of SC evaluated in this study, we note that the ESSE method resulted in larger aggregate areas under the ROC curve (A/sub z/) in each case. However, a statistically significant improvement over TEW correction was only observed in the LAD territory. This indicates that SC implemented with the ESSE and TEW methods were close in terms of their improvement in detection accuracy for perfusion defects in the clinical images of this investigation, with the ESSE method arguably being slightly better. However, the clinical implementation of ESSE will be hampered by its longer computing time.