Measurements of the performance parameters of gamma cameras: part II

Methods are described for field measurements of the performance parameters of gamma cameras, also called Anger or scintillation cameras. Their system spatial resolution was measured with arrays of 57Co and 195Au line sources emitting gamma rays in the range of 70 to 140 keV, and is of special interest to clinical nuclear medicine. The system sensitivity is determined with calibrated flood sources of the same two long-lived radionuclides. The temporal resolution is derived from counting-rate measurements with a two-source scatter phantom with /sup 99m/Tc sources in test tubes. In clinical procedures the observed counting rates should be limited to incur counting losses of less than 25 percent. Data for each of the three parameters are presented for more than 50 gamma-camera models from eight manufacturers, employing their low-energy high-resolution, general purpose and high-sensitivity parallel-hole collimators