Published July 2017 | Version v1
Journal article Metadata-only

Clinical evaluation of TOF versus non-TOF on PET artifacts in simultaneous PET/MR: a dual centre experience

Creators

  • 1. University of Zurich, Zurich (Switzerland)
  • 2. University Hospital Zurich, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Zurich (Switzerland)
  • 3. University Hospital Zurich, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Zurich (Switzerland)
  • 4. GE Global Research, Niskayuna, NY (United States)
  • 5. GE Global Research, Muenchen (Germany)
  • 6. GE Healthcare, Waukesha, WI (United States)
  • 7. Stanford University, Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford, CA (United States)
  • 8. Stanford University, Department of Radiology, Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Stanford, CA (United States)
  • 9. Stanford University, Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology, Stanford, CA (United States)
  • 10. University Hospital Zurich, Department of Neuroradiology, Zurich (Switzerland)

Description

Our objective was to determine clinically the value of time-of-flight (TOF) information in reducing PET artifacts and improving PET image quality and accuracy in simultaneous TOF PET/MR scanning. A total 65 patients who underwent a comparative scan in a simultaneous TOF PET/MR scanner were included. TOF and non-TOF PET images were reconstructed, clinically examined, compared and scored. PET imaging artifacts were categorized as large or small implant-related artifacts, as dental implant-related artifacts, and as implant-unrelated artifacts. Differences in image quality, especially those related to (implant) artifacts, were assessed using a scale ranging from 0 (no artifact) to 4 (severe artifact). A total of 87 image artifacts were found and evaluated. Four patients had large and eight patients small implant-related artifacts, 27 patients had dental implants/fillings, and 48 patients had implant-unrelated artifacts. The average score was 1.14 ± 0.82 for non-TOF PET images and 0.53 ± 0.66 for TOF images (p < 0.01) indicating that artifacts were less noticeable when TOF information was included. Our study indicates that PET image artifacts are significantly mitigated with integration of TOF information in simultaneous PET/MR. The impact is predominantly seen in patients with significant artifacts due to metal implants. (orig.)

Availability note (English)

Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00259-017-3619-2

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1007/s00259-017-3619-2;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
Journal Volume
44
Journal Issue
7
Journal Page Range
p. 1223-1233
ISSN
1619-7070

INIS

Country of Publication
Germany
Country of Input or Organization
Germany
INIS RN
48070362
Subject category
S62: RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE;
Descriptors DEI
ACCURACY; BIOLOGICAL LOCALIZATION; CARCINOMAS; COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY; DENTISTRY; FLUORINE 18; FLUORODEOXYGLUCOSE; HEAD; IMPLANTS; LUNGS; METASTASES; NMR IMAGING; POSITRON COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY; RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS; SPINAL CORD; TEETH; TIME-OF-FLIGHT METHOD; UPTAKE
Descriptors DEC
ANTIMETABOLITES; BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; BETA-PLUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; BODY; CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM; COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY; DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES; DIGESTIVE SYSTEM; DISEASES; DRUGS; EMISSION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY; FLUORINE ISOTOPES; HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES; ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES; ISOTOPES; LABELLED COMPOUNDS; LIGHT NUCLEI; MATERIALS; MEDICINE; NANOSECONDS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES; NEOPLASMS; NERVOUS SYSTEM; NUCLEI; ODD-ODD NUCLEI; ORAL CAVITY; ORGANS; RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS; RADIOISOTOPES; RESPIRATORY SYSTEM; TOMOGRAPHY