High-resolution Collimator Research Articles

Characterization of SIEMENS Symbia T SPECT camera in Monte Carlo simulation environment

Background: Monte Carlo N-Particle code, version 5 (MCNP5) is a generalpurpose Monte Carlo code and it can be used for the design of imaging systems. In this paper, a realistic single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) model was developed referred to the SIEMENS Symbia T imaging system. Methods: The most important components of the SPECT camera were modeled, especially a low-energy highresolution collimator with hexagonalhole was simulated as closely as possible to its shape and dimensions. The photoelectric effect, Compton and coherent scattering were included in the gamma transport process. In order to validate the SPECT model, specifications in terms of intrinsic spatial resolution, energy resolution, sensitivity, system spatial resolution, and tomography spatial resolution were calculated in comparison with experimental data. Results: Overall results showed good agreements between the simulations and experimental results provided by SIEMENS. The simulated intrinsic resolution and energy resolution matched well with experimental data. The sensitivity measurements from simulation data yielded higher values. For the system spatial resolution, it differed about 3% compared with the experimental result. The tomographic results showed differences of 5.9%, 5.6%, 0.3%, 10.7%, and 0.2% for the five average resolutions, respectively. Conclusion: In summary, the results demonstrated the flexibility and accuracy of MCNP5 to simulate the basic features of SIEMENS Symbia T SPECT Camera and exemplified its potential benefits in protocol optimization and in system design.

Development and calibration of a new gamma camera detector using large square Photomultiplier Tubes

Large area scintillation detectors applied in gamma cameras as well as Single Photon Computed Tomography (SPECT) systems, have a major role in in-vivo functional imaging. Most of the gamma detectors utilize hexagonal arrangement of Photomultiplier Tubes (PMTs). In this work we applied large square-shaped PMTs with row/column arrangement and positioning. The Use of large square PMTs reduces dead zones in the detector surface. However, the conventional center of gravity method for positioning may not introduce an acceptable result. Hence, the digital correlated signal enhancement (CSE) algorithm was optimized to obtain better linearity and spatial resolution in the developed detector. The performance of the developed detector was evaluated based on NEMA-NU1-2007 standard. The acquired images using this method showed acceptable uniformity and linearity comparing to three commercial gamma cameras. Also the intrinsic and extrinsic spatial resolutions with low-energy high-resolution (LEHR) collimator at 10 cm from surface of the detector were 3.7 mm and 7.5 mm, respectively. The energy resolution of the camera was measured 9.5%. The performance evaluation demonstrated that the developed detector maintains image quality with a reduced number of used PMTs relative to the detection area.

Design and evaluation of two multi-pinhole collimators for brain SPECT

SPECT is a powerful tool for diagnosing or staging brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) but is limited by its inferior resolution and sensitivity. At the same time, pinhole SPECT provides superior resolution and detection efficiency trade-off as compared to the conventional parallel-hole collimator for imaging small field-of-view (FOV), which fits for the case of brain imaging. In this study, we propose to develop and evaluate two multi-pinhole (MPH) collimator designsto improve the imaging of cerebral blood flow and striatum. We set the target resolutions to be 12 and 8mm, respectively, and the FOV at 200mm which is large enough to cover the whole brain. The constraints for system optimization include maximum and minimum detector-to-center-of-FOV (CFOV) distances of 344 and 294mm, respectively, and minimal radius-of-rotation (ROR) of 135mm to accommodate patients' shoulder. According to the targeted FOV, resolutions, and constraints, we determined the pinhole number, ROR, focal length, apertureacceptance angle, and aperturediameter which maximized the system sensitivity. We then assessed the imaging performance of the proposedMPH and standard low-energy high-resolution (LEHR) collimators using analytical simulations of a digital NCAT brain phantom with 99mTc-HMPAO/99mTc-TRODAT-1 distributions; Monte Carlo simulations of a hot-rod phantom; and a Defrise phantom using GATE v6.1. Projections were generated over 360° and reconstructed using the 3D MPH/LEHR OS-EM methods with up to 720 updates. The normalized mean square error (NMSE) was calculated over the cerebral and striatal regions extracted from the reconstructed images for 99mTc-HMPAO and 99mTc-TRODAT-1 simulations, respectively, and average normalized standard deviation (NSD) based on 20 noise realizations was assessed on selected uniform 3D regions as the noise index. Visual assessment and image profiles were applied to the results of Monte Carlo simulations. The optimized design parameters of the MPH collimators were 9 pinholes with 4.7 and 2.8mm pinhole diameter, 73° acceptance angle, 127mm focal length, 167mm ROR for 12mm and 8mm target resolution, respectively. According to the optimization results, the detection efficiencies of the proposed collimators were 270 and 40% more as compared to LEHR. The Monte Carlo simulations showed that 7.9 and 6.4mm rods can be discriminated for the MPH collimators with target resolutions of 12 and 8mm, respectively. The eight 12mm-thick discs of the Defrise phantom can also be resolved clearly in the axial plane as demonstrated by the image profiles generated with the MPH collimators. The two collimator designs provide superior image quality as compared to the conventional LEHR, and shows potential to improve current brain SPECT imaging based on a conventional SPECT scanner.

Ejection fraction in myocardial perfusion imaging assessed with a dynamic phantom: comparison between IQ-SPECT and LEHR

BackgroundDevelopments in single photon emission tomography instrumentation and reconstruction methods present a potential for decreasing acquisition times. One of such recent options for myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is IQ-SPECT. This study was motivated by the inconsistency in the reported ejection fraction (EF) and left ventricular (LV) volume results between IQ-SPECT and more conventional low-energy high-resolution (LEHR) collimation protocols. IQ-SPECT and LEHR quantitative results were compared while the equivalent number of iterations (EI) was varied. The end-diastolic (EDV) and end-systolic volumes (ESV) and the derived EF values were investigated.A dynamic heart phantom was used to produce repeatable ESVs, EDVs and EFs. Phantom performance was verified by comparing the set EF values to those measured from a gated multi-slice X-ray computed tomography (CT) scan (EFTrue). The phantom with an EF setting of 45, 55, 65 and 70% was imaged with both IQ-SPECT and LEHR protocols. The data were reconstructed with different EI, and two commonly used clinical myocardium delineation software were used to evaluate the LV volumes.ResultsThe CT verification showed that the phantom EF settings were repeatable and accurate with the EFTrue being within 1% point from the manufacture’s nominal value. Depending on EI both MPI protocols can be made to produce correct EF estimates, but IQ-SPECT protocol produced on average 41 and 42% smaller EDV and ESV when compared to the phantom’s volumes, while LEHR protocol underestimated volumes by 24 and 21%, respectively. The volume results were largely similar between the delineation methods used.ConclusionsThe reconstruction parameters can greatly affect the volume estimates obtained from perfusion studies. IQ-SPECT produces systematically smaller LV volumes than the conventional LEHR MPI protocol. The volume estimates are also software dependent.

Cross calibration of 123I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine heart-to-mediastinum ratio with D-SPECT planogram and Anger camera

BackgroundCardiac 123I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) uptake is quantified using the heart-to-mediastinum ratio (HMR) with an Anger camera. The relationship between HMR determined using D-SPECT with a cadmium–zinc–telluride detector and an Anger camera is not fully understood. Therefore, the present study aimed to define this relationship using images derived from a phantom and from patients.MethodsCross-calibration phantom studies using an Anger camera with a low-energy high-resolution (LEHR) collimator and D-SPECT, and clinical 123I-MIBG studies proceeded in 40 consecutive patients (80 studies). In the phantom study, a conversion coefficient (CC) was defined based on phantom experiments and applied to the Anger camera and the D-SPECT detector. The HMR was calculated using anterior images with the Anger camera and anterior planograms with D-SPECT. First, the HMR from D-SPECT was cross-calibrated to the Anger camera, and then, the HMR from both cameras were converted to the medium-energy general-purpose collimator condition (CC 0.88; ME88 condition). The relationship between HMR and corrected and uncorrected methods was examined. A 123I-MIBG washout rate was calculated using both methods with and without background subtraction.ResultsBased on the phantom experiments, the CC of the Anger camera with an LEHR collimator and of D-SPECT using an anterior planogram was 0.55 and 0.63, respectively. The original HMR from the Anger camera and D-SPECT was 1.76 ± 0.42 and 1.86 ± 0.55, respectively (p < 0.0001). After D-SPECT HMR was converted to the Anger camera condition, the corrected D-SPECT HMR became comparable to the values under the Anger camera condition (1.75 ± 0.48, p = n. s.). When the HMR measured using the two cameras were converted under the ME88 condition, the average standardized HMR from the Anger camera and D-SPECT became comparable (2.21 ± 0.65 vs. 2.20 ± 0.75, p = n. s.). After standardization to the ME88 condition, a systematic difference in the linear regression lines disappeared, and the HMR from both the Anger (StdHMRAnger) and D-SPECT (StdHMRDSPECT) became comparable. Additional correction using a regression line further improved the relationship between both HMR [StdHMRDSPECT = 0.09 + 0.98 × StdHMRAnger (R2 = 0.91)]. The washout rate closely correlated with and without background correction between both methods (R2 = 0.83 and 0.65, respectively).ConclusionThe phantom-based conversion method is applicable to D-SPECT and enables the common application of HMR irrespective of D-SPECT and the Anger camera.

Evaluation of general-purpose collimators against high-resolution collimators with resolution recovery with a view to reducing radiation dose in myocardial perfusion SPECT: A preliminary phantom study

BackgroundThere is a growing focus on reducing radiation dose to patients undergoing myocardial perfusion imaging. This preliminary phantom study aims to evaluate the use of general-purpose collimators with resolution recovery (RR) to allow a reduction in patient radiation dose. MethodsImages of a cardiac torso phantom with inferior and anterior wall defects were acquired on a GE Infinia and Siemens Symbia T6 using both high-resolution and general-purpose collimators. Imaging time, a surrogate for administered activity, was reduced between 35% and 40% with general-purpose collimators to match the counts acquired with high-resolution collimators. Images were reconstructed with RR with and without attenuation correction. Two pixel sizes were also investigated. Defect contrast was measured. ResultsDefect contrast on general-purpose images was superior or comparable to the high-resolution collimators on both systems despite the reduced imaging time. Infinia general-purpose images required a smaller pixel size to be used to maintain defect contrast, while Symbia T6 general-purpose images did not require a change in pixel size to that used for standard myocardial perfusion SPECT. ConclusionThis study suggests that general-purpose collimators with RR offer a potential for substantial dose reductions while providing similar or better image quality to images acquired using high-resolution collimators.

A Monte Carlo study for optimizing the detector of SPECT imaging using a XCAT human phantom.

Acquiring a high quality image has assigned an important concern for obtaining accurate diagnosis in nuclear medicine. Detector is a critical component of Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) imaging system for giving accurate information from exact pattern of radionuclide distribution in the target organ. The images are strongly affected by the attenuation, scattering, and response of the detector. The conventional detector is mainly made from sodium iodide activated by thallium [NaI(Tl)] in nuclear medicine imaging. This study has planned to introduce a suitable for an optimized SPECT imaging. SIMIND Monte Carlo program was utilized for simulating a SPECT imaging system with a NaI(Tl) detector, and a low-energy high-resolution (LEHR) collimator. The Planar and SPECT scans of a 99mTc point source and also an extended Cardiac-Torso (XCAT) computerized phantom with the experiment and simulated systems were prepared. After verification and validation of the simulated system, the similar scans of the phantoms were compared from the point of view of image quality for 7 scintillator crystals including: NaI(Tl), BGO, YAG:Ce, YAP:Ce, LuAG:Ce, LaBr3 and CZT. The parameters of energy and spatial resolution, and sensitivity of the systems were compared. Images were analyzed quantitatively by SSIM algorithm with Zhou Wang and Rouse/Hemami methods, and also qualitatively by two nuclear medicine specialists. Energy resolutions of the mentioned crystals obtained were: 9.864, 9.8545, 10.229, 10.221, 10.230, 10.131and10.223 percentage for 99mTc photopeak 140 Kev, respectively. Finally, SSIM indexes for the related phantom images were calculated to 0.794, 0.738, 0.735, 0.607, 0.760 and 0.811 compared to the NaI(Tl) acquired images, respectively. Medical diagnosis of the SPECT images of the phantom showed that the system with BGO crystal potentially provides a better detectability for hot and cold lesions in the liver of XCAT phantom. The results showed that BGO crystal has a high sensitivity and resolution, and also provides a better lesion detectability from the point of view of image quality on XCAT phantom.

A Numerical Study of Different Types of Collimators for a High-Resolution Preclinical CdTe Pixelated Semiconductor SPECT System

In single-photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT) with a pixelated semiconductor detector (PSD), not only pinhole collimators but also parallel-hole collimators are often used in preclinical nuclear-medicine imaging systems. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare pinhole and parallel-hole collimators in a PSD. For that purpose, we paired a PID 350 (Ajat Oy Ltd., Finland) CdTe PSD with each of the four collimators most frequently used in preclinical nuclear medicine: (1) a pinhole collimator, and (2) low-energy high-resolution (LEHR), (3) low-energy general-purpose (LEGP), and (4) low-energy high-sensitivity (LEHS) parallel-hole collimators. The sensitivity and spatial resolution of each collimator was evaluated using a point source and a hot-rod phantom. The highest sensitivity was achieved using LEHS, followed by LEGP, LEHR, and pinhole. Also, at a source-to-collimator distance of 2 cm, the spatial resolution was 1.63, 2.05, 2.79, and 3.45 mm using pinhole, LEHR, LEGP, and LEHS, respectively. The reconstructed hot-rod phantom images showed that the pinhole collimator and the LEHR parallel-hole collimator give a fine spatial resolution for preclinical SPECT with PSD. In conclusion, we successfully compared different types of collimators for a preclinical pixelated semiconductor SPECT system.

188Re image performance assessment using small animal multi-pinhole SPECT/PET/CT system

PurposeThe goal of this study was to investigate the performance of a pre-clinical SPECT/PET/CT system for 188Re imaging. MethodsPhantom experiments were performed aiming to assess the characteristics of two multi-pinhole collimators: ultra-high resolution collimator (UHRC) and high-energy ultra high resolution collimator (HE-URHC) for imaging 188Re. The spatial resolution, image contrast and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were investigated using micro-Jaszczak phantoms. Additionally, the quantification accuracy of 188Re images was evaluated using two custom-designed phantoms. The 188Re images were compared to those obtained with 99mTc (gold standard); the acquired energy spectra were analyzed and Monte-Carlo simulations of the UHRC were performed. To verify our findings, a C57BL/6-mouse was injected with 188Re-microspheres and scanned with both collimators. ResultsThe spatial resolution achieved in 188Re images was comparable to that of 99mTc. Acquisitions using HE-UHRC yielded 188Re images with higher contrast and CNR than UHRC. Studies of quantitative accuracy of 188Re images resulted in <10% errors for both collimators when the activity was calculated within a small VOI around the object of interest. Similar quantification accuracy was achieved for 99mTc. However, 188Re images showed much higher levels of noise in the background. Monte-Carlo simulations showed that 188Re imaging with UHRC is severely affected by down-scattered photons from high-energy emissions. The mouse images showed similar biodistribution of 188Re-microspheres for both collimators. ConclusionsVECTor/CT provided 188Re images quantitatively accurate and with quality comparable to 99mTc. However, due to large penetration of UHRC by high-energy photons, the use of the HE-UHRC for imaging 188Re in VECTor/CT is recommended.

Objective comparison of lesion detectability in low and medium-energy collimator iodine-123 mIBG images using a channelized Hotelling observer

Iodine-123 mIBG imaging is widely regarded as a gold standard for diagnostic studies of neuroblastoma and adult neuroendocrine cancer although the optimal collimator for tumour imaging remains undetermined. Low-energy (LE) high-resolution (HR) collimators provide superior spatial resolution. However due to septal penetration of high-energy photons these provide poorer contrast than medium-energy (ME) general-purpose (GP) collimators. LEGP collimators improve count sensitivity. The aim of this study was to objectively compare the lesion detection efficiency of each collimator to determine the optimal collimator for diagnostic imaging.The septal penetration and sensitivity of each collimator was assessed. Planar images of the patient abdomen were simulated with static scans of a Liqui-Phil™ anthropomorphic phantom with lesion-shaped inserts, acquired with LE and ME collimators on 3 different manufacturers’ gamma camera systems (Skylight (Philips), Intevo (Siemens) and Discovery (GE)). Two-hundred normal and 200 single-lesion abnormal images were created for each collimator. A channelized Hotelling observer (CHO) was developed and validated to score the images for the likelihood of an abnormality. The areas under receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curves, Az, created from the scores were used to quantify lesion detectability. The CHO ROC curves for the LEHR collimators were inferior to the GP curves for all cameras. The LEHR collimators resulted in statistically significantly smaller Azs (p < 0.05), of on average 0.891 ± 0.004, than for the MEGP collimators, 0.933 ± 0.004. In conclusion, the reduced background provided by MEGP collimators improved 123I mIBG image lesion detectability over LEHR collimators that provided better spatial resolution.

Evaluation of Stationary and Semi-stationary Acquisitions from Dual-head Multi-pinhole Collimator for Myocardial Perfusion SPECT

This study investigates the performance of different stationary and semi-stationary multi-pinhole collimator (MPH) designs with a dual-head L-mode configuration as compared to that of a conventional low-energy high-resolution (LEHR) collimator for myocardial perfusion (MP) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The target field-of-view for the heart was 16 cm with a target resolution of 1 cm. The design parameters were determined by maximizing the detection efficiency based on the system design constraints. Three stationary designs (L-modes I to III) and semi-stationary designs (S-modes I to III) with four detector positions (i.e., 2 L-mode positions at various angles apart) were evaluated. We used the XCAT phantom with 99mTc-sestamibi distribution and a three-dimensional analytical MPH/LEHR projector to generate noise-free and noisy projections, which were reconstructed using the maximum-likelihood expectation–maximization algorithm with up to 180 updates. A two-dimensional (2D) region-of-interest with 32 × 32 pixels covering the central axial slice of the left ventricle was analyzed using normalized mean-squared error (NMSE), normalized standard deviation (NSD), and a 2D bias map. The optimized MPH collimator design parameters are 12 pinholes, an acceptance angle of 51°, an aperture size of 4.6 mm, a collimator length of 15.8 cm, and an imaging distance of 18.6 cm. The NMSE of L-mode II (0.326) was the lowest among all stationary designs. S-mode II/40° provided the lowest NMSE result (0.14) among all acquisitions, and was 36.1 % better than LEHR. The NSD-NMSE result showed that S-mode II/40° had the best NMSE-NSD trade-off. The 2D bias map of S-mode II/40° approached that of LEHR. Semi-stationary MPH acquisition substantially improved image quality as compared to those obtained with a full stationary design and a conventional LEHR for MP SPECT.

O30. The effect of collimator choice on quantitative assessment of Iodine-123 on the grounds of contrast accuracy and heart–mediastinum ratio: A simulated phantom study

Introduction Literature reports much debate about collimator choice for imaging with I-123, depending on whether image quantification or image quality interpretation is required. The aim of this study was to investigate the relative effect of septal penetration due to collimator choice on contrast quantification accuracy and image quality using a segmented and thoracic phantom, simulated using Simind Monte Carlo software. Materials and methods The first part of this study evaluated the amount of septal penetration present when using either a low-energy-high-resolution or medium-energy collimator with Iodine-123 inside a segmented phantom for source-to-collimator distances of 2 cm and 10 cm. Contrast accuracy was determined by correlating the collected counts in a region of interest with the expected number predetermined from the ratio of activities simulated. The second part focused on the clinical implication, where the heart-to-mediastinum ratio is evaluated using I-123 in a thoracic phantom set-up using abovementioned collimators. All images were evaluated for image quality by blinded independent human observers provided with a score sheet. Results In part one, the contrast accuracy proved marginally better by 7.6 ± 2.3% and 16.2 ± 6.2% at 2 and 10 cm respectively when using the medium-energy collimator. In part two, the heart-mediastinum ratio was more accurate with a percentage difference of 4.8% for the medium-energy collimator in comparison to 21.4% for the low-energy-high-resolution collimator. In both part one and two the medium-energy collimator delivered better contrast, whilst the low-energy high-resolution collimator provided better image resolution. Conclusion When conducting a quantitative analysis based Iodine-123 study using contrast ratios in planar images, contrast accuracy should be prioritized above the overall image quality and the medium-energy collimator should be employed. For an Iodine-123 study in which a visual diagnosis needs to be made from the planar images, image resolution should be optimized by using the low-energy high-resolution collimator.

Comparison of the accuracy of 99mTc-3P4-RGD2 SPECT and CT in diagnosing solitary pulmonary nodules.

The aim of the present study was to compare technetium-99m-(polyethylene glycol-4)3-(Arg-Gly-Asp)2 (99mTc-3P4-RGD2) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and computed tomography (CT) in the noninvasive differentiation of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs). The present study prospectively investigated a consecutive series of 24 patients with SPN, who were newly diagnosed using radiography between September 2012 and January 2014. All patients underwent 99mTc-3P4-RGD2 SPECT and CT scans using a dual-head variable-angle γ-camera equipped with high-resolution collimators. A blinded panel of two thoracic radiologists for CT and three nuclear physicians for SPECT analyzed the images using a 5-grade scale. The SPECT images were also semi-quantitatively evaluated using tumor to non-tumor localization ratios (T/NT). The results were verified by pathological examination of the biopsy material obtained from each patient with SPN, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated from these results. The present results revealed that there were 17 malignant and 7 benign SPNs among the 24 patients with SPN. The mean size of the SPN was 2.1±0.6 cm. Sensitivity of visual analysis for SPECT and CT were 100.0 and 82.4%, respectively, and specificity was 71.4% for the two methods. When the T/NT SPECT semiquantitative analysis (ratio, 1.64) was used as a cut-off, the sensitivity and specificity of SPECT were 100.0 and 71.4%, respectively. The areas under the ROC curves were 0.840 for visual analysis of SPECT [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.600–1.000], 0.849 for semiquantitative analysis of SPECT (95% CI, 0.618–1.000) and 0.815 for CT (95% CI, 0.626–1.000). In conclusion, the present results suggest that 99mTc-3P4-RGD2 SPECT is more accurate than CT in the detection of malignant SPN, and visual analysis appears to be sufficient for the characterization of SPN.

Dose reduction in half-time myocardial perfusion SPECT-CT with multifocal collimation

BackgroundRecent technological advances in myocardial perfusion imaging may warrant the use of lower injected activity. We evaluated whether quantitative measures of stress myocardial perfusion defects using Tc-99m sestamibi and low-energy high-resolution (LEHR) collimators are equivalent to lower dose SPECT-CT with cardiac multifocal collimators and software (IQ·SPECT). Methods93 patients underwent one-day rest-stress gated SPECT-CT. Following conventional rest imaging, 925-1100 MBq (25-30 mCi) of Tc-99m sestamibi was injected during stress testing. Stress SPECT-CT images were acquired two ways: with LEHR (13 minutes) and IQ·SPECT (7 minutes). Low-dose IQ·SPECT stress was simulated by subsampling the full-dose data to half-, quarter-, and eighth-count levels. Abnormalities were quantified using the total perfusion deficit (TPD) score and dose-specific databases. ResultsThe mean ± SD of the differences between LEHR and IQ·SPECT TPD scores were −1.01 ± 5.36%, −0.10 ± 5.81%, 1.78 ± 4.81%, and 1.75 ± 6.05% at full, half, quarter, and eighth doses, respectively. Differences were statistically significant for quarter and eighth doses. Correlation between LEHR and IQ·SPECT was excellent at all doses (R ≥ 0.93). Bland-Altman plots demonstrated minimal bias. ConclusionsWith IQ·SPECT, quantitative stress SPECT-CT imaging is possible with half of the standard injected activity in half the time.

Accelerated GPU based SPECT Monte Carlo simulations

Monte Carlo (MC) modelling is widely used in the field of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) as it is a reliable technique to simulate very high quality scans. This technique provides very accurate modelling of the radiation transport and particle interactions in a heterogeneous medium. Various MC codes exist for nuclear medicine imaging simulations. Recently, new strategies exploiting the computing capabilities of graphical processing units (GPU) have been proposed. This work aims at evaluating the accuracy of such GPU implementation strategies in comparison to standard MC codes in the context of SPECT imaging. GATE was considered the reference MC toolkit and used to evaluate the performance of newly developed GPU Geant4-based Monte Carlo simulation (GGEMS) modules for SPECT imaging. Radioisotopes with different photon energies were used with these various CPU and GPU Geant4-based MC codes in order to assess the best strategy for each configuration. Three different isotopes were considered: 99mTc, 111In and 131I, using a low energy high resolution (LEHR) collimator, a medium energy general purpose (MEGP) collimator and a high energy general purpose (HEGP) collimator respectively. Point source, uniform source, cylindrical phantom and anthropomorphic phantom acquisitions were simulated using a model of the GE infinia II 3/8" gamma camera. Both simulation platforms yielded a similar system sensitivity and image statistical quality for the various combinations. The overall acceleration factor between GATE and GGEMS platform derived from the same cylindrical phantom acquisition was between 18 and 27 for the different radioisotopes. Besides, a full MC simulation using an anthropomorphic phantom showed the full potential of the GGEMS platform, with a resulting acceleration factor up to 71. The good agreement with reference codes and the acceleration factors obtained support the use of GPU implementation strategies for improving computational efficiency of SPECT imaging simulations.

Collimator optimization in myocardial perfusion SPECT using the ideal observer and realistic background variability for lesion detection and joint detection and localization tasks

In SPECT imaging, collimators are a major factor limiting image quality and largely determine the noise and resolution of SPECT images. In this paper, we seek the collimator with the optimal tradeoff between image noise and resolution with respect to performance on two tasks related to myocardial perfusion SPECT: perfusion defect detection and joint detection and localization. We used the Ideal Observer (IO) operating on realistic background-known-statistically (BKS) and signal-known-exactly (SKE) data. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and localization ROC (LROC) curves (AUCd, AUCd+l), respectively, were used as the figures of merit for both tasks. We used a previously developed population of 54 phantoms based on the eXtended Cardiac Torso Phantom (XCAT) that included variations in gender, body size, heart size and subcutaneous adipose tissue level. For each phantom, organ uptakes were varied randomly based on distributions observed in patient data. We simulated perfusion defects at six different locations with extents and severities of 10% and 25%, respectively, which represented challenging but clinically relevant defects. The extent and severity are, respectively, the perfusion defect’s fraction of the myocardial volume and reduction of uptake relative to the normal myocardium. Projection data were generated using an analytical projector that modeled attenuation, scatter, and collimator-detector response effects, a 9% energy resolution at 140 keV, and a 4 mm full-width at half maximum (FWHM) intrinsic spatial resolution. We investigated a family of eight parallel-hole collimators that spanned a large range of sensitivity-resolution tradeoffs. For each collimator and defect location, the IO test statistics were computed using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method for an ensemble of 540 pairs of defect-present and -absent images that included the aforementioned anatomical and uptake variability. Sets of test statistics were computed for both tasks and analyzed using ROC and LROC analysis methodologies. The results of this study suggest that collimators with somewhat poorer resolution and higher sensitivity than those of a typical low-energy high-resolution (LEHR) collimator were optimal for both defect detection and joint detection and localization tasks in myocardial perfusion SPECT for the range of defect sizes investigated. This study also indicates that optimizing instrumentation for a detection task may provide near-optimal performance on the more challenging detection-localization task.

Design of a Multi-Pinhole Collimator for I-123 DaTscan Imaging on Dual-Headed SPECT Systems in Combination with a Fan-Beam Collimator.

For the 2011 FDA approved Parkinson's Disease (PD) SPECT imaging agent I-123 labeled DaTscan, the volume of interest (VOI) is the interior portion of the brain. However imaging of the occipital lobe is also required with PD for calculation of the striatal binding ratio (SBR), a parameter of significance in early diagnosis, differentiation of PD from other disorders with similar clinical presentations, and monitoring progression. Thus we propose the usage of a combination of a multi-pinhole (MPH) collimator on one head of the SPECT system and a fan-beam on the other. The MPH would be designed to provide high resolution and sensitivity for imaging of the interior portion of the brain. The fan-beam collimator would provide lower resolution but complete sampling of the brain addressing data sufficiency and allowing a volume-of-interest to be defined over the occipital lobe for calculation of SBR's. Herein we focus on the design of the MPH component of the combined system. Combined reconstruction will be addressed in a subsequent publication. An analysis of 46 clinical DaTscan studies was performed to provide information to define the VOI, and design of a MPH collimator to image this VOI. The system spatial resolution for the MPH was set to 4.7 mm, which is comparable to that of clinical PET systems, and significantly smaller than that of fan-beam collimators employed in SPECT. With this set, we compared system sensitivities for three aperture array designs, and selected the 3 × 3 array due to it being the highest of the three. The combined sensitivity of the apertures for it was similar to that of an ultra-high resolution fan-beam (LEUHRF) collimator, but smaller than that of a high-resolution fan-beam collimator (LEHRF). On the basis of these results we propose the further exploration of this design through simulations, and the development of combined MPH and fan-beam reconstruction.

A Study on Determination of an Optimized Detector for Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography.

The detector is a critical component of the single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging system for giving accurate information from the exact pattern of radionuclide distribution in the target organ. The SIMIND Monte Carlo program was utilized for the simulation of a Siemen's dual head variable angle SPECT imaging system with a low energy high resolution (LEHR) collimator. The Planar and SPECT scans for a 99mTc point source and a Jaszczak Phantom with the both experiment and simulated systems were prepared and after verification and validation of the simulated system, the similar scans of the phantoms were compared (from the point of view of the images’ quality), namely, the simulated system with the detectors including bismuth germanate (BGO), yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG:Ce), Cerium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG:Ce), yttrium aluminum perovslite (YAP:Ce), lutetium aluminum garnet (LuAG:Ce), cerium activated lanthanum bromide (LaBr3), cadmium zinc telluride (CZT), and sodium iodide activated with thallium [NaI(Tl)]. The parameters of full width at half maximum (FWHM), energy and special resolution, sensitivity, and also the comparison of images’ quality by the structural similarity (SSIM) algorithm with the Zhou Wang and Rouse/Hemami methods were analyzed. FWHMs for the crystals were calculated at 13.895, 14.321, 14.310, 14.322, 14.184, and 14.312 keV and the related energy resolutions obtained 9.854, 10.229, 10.221, 10.230, 10.131, and 10.223 %, respectively. Finally, SSIM indexes for comparison of the phantom images were calculated at 0.22172, 0.16326, 0.18135, 0.17301, 0.18412, and 0.20433 as compared to NaI(Tl). The results showed that BGO and LuAG: Ce crystals have high sensitivity and resolution, and better image quality as compared to other scintillation crystals.

Investigation of an SFOV hybrid gamma camera for thyroid imaging

The Hybrid Compact Gamma Camera (HCGC) is a small field of view (SFOV) portable hybrid gamma-optical camera intended for small organ imaging at the patient bedside. In this study, a thyroid phantom was used to determine the suitability of the HCGC for clinical thyroid imaging through comparison with large field of view (LFOV) system performance.A direct comparison with LFOV contrast performance showed that the lower sensitivity of the HCGC had a detrimental effect on image quality. Despite this, the contrast of HCGC images exceeded those of the LFOV cameras for some image features particularly when a high-resolution pinhole collimator was used.A clinical simulation showed that thyroid morphology was visible in a 5 min integrated image acquisition with an expected dependency on the activity within the thyroid. The first clinical use of the HCGC for imaging thyroid uptake of 123I is also presented.Measurements indicate that the HCGC has promising utility in thyroid imaging, particularly as its small size allows it to be brought into closer proximity with a patient. Future development of the energy response of the HCGC is expected to further improve image detectability.

Evaluation of Iterative Reconstruction Method and Attenuation Correction in Brain Dopamine Transporter SPECT Using an Anthropomorphic Striatal Phantom.

Objective(s):The aim of this study was to determine the optimal reconstruction parameters for iterative reconstruction in different devices and collimators for dopamine transporter (DaT) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The results were compared between filtered back projection (FBP) and different attenuation correction (AC) methods.Methods:An anthropomorphic striatal phantom was filled with 123I solutions at different striatum-to-background radioactivity ratios. Data were acquired using two SPECT/CT devices, equipped with a low-to-medium-energy general-purpose collimator (cameras A-1 and B-1) and a low-energy high-resolution (LEHR) collimator (cameras A-2 and B-2). The SPECT images were once reconstructed by FBP using Chang’s AC and once by ordered subset expectation maximization (OSEM) using both CTAC and Chang’s AC; moreover, scatter correction was performed. OSEM on cameras A-1 and A-2 included resolution recovery (RR). The images were analyzed, using the specific binding ratio (SBR). Regions of interest for the background were placed on both frontal and occipital regions.Results:The optimal number of iterations and subsets was 10i10s on camera A-1, 10i5s on camera A-2, and 7i6s on cameras B-1 and B-2. The optimal full width at half maximum of the Gaussian filter was 2.5 times the pixel size. In the comparison between FBP and OSEM, the quality was superior on OSEM-reconstructed images, although edge artifacts were observed in cameras A-1 and A-2. The SBR recovery of OSEM was higher than that of FBP on cameras A-1 and A-2, while no significant difference was detected on cameras B-1 and B-2. Good linearity of SBR was observed in all cameras. In the comparison between Chang’s AC and CTAC, a significant correlation was observed on all cameras. The difference in the background region influenced SBR differently in Chang’s AC and CTAC on cameras A-1 and B-1.Conclusion:Iterative reconstruction improved image quality on all cameras, although edge artifacts were observed in images captured by cameras with RR. The SBR of OSEM with RR was higher than that of FBP, while the SBR of OSEM without RR was equal to that of FBP. Also, the SBR of Chang’s AC varied with different background regions in cameras A-1 and B-1.