The effect of collimation on singles rates in multi-slice PET

The ratio (S:C) of singles to true coincident events in a Positron Emission Tomograph (PET) depends on the collimator size and shape. As well as causing random counts when they fall within the energy acceptance window, single events are the main cause of dead time. Monte Carlo techniques were used to compare S:C ratios in well collimated single slice, 15 slice and open collimator 3-D configurations. All systems used cylindrical arrays of BGO or Nal crystals 51 cm in diameter and 10 cm deep. A 12 cm deep 20 cm diameter source gives rise to S:C ratio of 53:1 with a low energy threshold of 350 keV in a well collimated single slice tomograph. When all slices are combined the S:C ratio for both 15 slice and 3-D is 24:1 under the same conditions, however the 3-D system detects five times more true coincident events. The 3-D systems are much more sensitive to events outside the scan field