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Budenkotte T, Apostolova I, Opfer R, Krüger J, Klutmann S, Buchert R. Automated identification of uncertain cases in deep learning-based classification of dopamine transporter SPECT to improve clinical utility and acceptance. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2024; 51:1333-1344. [PMID: 38133688 PMCID: PMC10957699 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-023-06566-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Deep convolutional neural networks (CNN) are promising for automatic classification of dopamine transporter (DAT)-SPECT images. Reporting the certainty of CNN-based decisions is highly desired to flag cases that might be misclassified and, therefore, require particularly careful inspection by the user. The aim of the current study was to design and validate a CNN-based system for the identification of uncertain cases. METHODS A network ensemble (NE) combining five CNNs was trained for binary classification of [123I]FP-CIT DAT-SPECT images as "normal" or "neurodegeneration-typical reduction" with high accuracy (NE for classification, NEfC). An uncertainty detection module (UDM) was obtained by combining two additional NE, one trained for detection of "reduced" DAT-SPECT with high sensitivity, the other with high specificity. A case was considered "uncertain" if the "high sensitivity" NE and the "high specificity" NE disagreed. An internal "development" dataset of 1740 clinical DAT-SPECT images was used for training (n = 1250) and testing (n = 490). Two independent datasets with different image characteristics were used for testing only (n = 640, 645). Three established approaches for uncertainty detection were used for comparison (sigmoid, dropout, model averaging). RESULTS In the test data from the development dataset, the NEfC achieved 98.0% accuracy. 4.3% of all test cases were flagged as "uncertain" by the UDM: 2.5% of the correctly classified cases and 90% of the misclassified cases. NEfC accuracy among "certain" cases was 99.8%. The three comparison methods were less effective in labelling misclassified cases as "uncertain" (40-80%). These findings were confirmed in both additional test datasets. CONCLUSION The UDM allows reliable identification of uncertain [123I]FP-CIT SPECT with high risk of misclassification. We recommend that automatic classification of [123I]FP-CIT SPECT images is combined with an UDM to improve clinical utility and acceptance. The proposed UDM method ("high sensitivity versus high specificity") might be useful also for DAT imaging with other ligands and for other binary classification tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Budenkotte
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ivayla Apostolova
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Susanne Klutmann
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ralph Buchert
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
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Tran-Gia J, Denis-Bacelar AM, Ferreira KM, Robinson AP, Bobin C, Bonney LM, Calvert N, Collins SM, Fenwick AJ, Finocchiaro D, Fioroni F, Giannopoulou K, Grassi E, Heetun W, Jewitt SJ, Kotzasarlidou M, Ljungberg M, Lourenço V, McGowan DR, Mewburn-Crook J, Sabot B, Scuffham J, Sjögreen Gleisner K, Solc J, Thiam C, Tipping J, Wevrett J, Lassmann M. On the use of solid 133Ba sources as surrogate for liquid 131I in SPECT/CT calibration: a European multi-centre evaluation. EJNMMI Phys 2023; 10:73. [PMID: 37993667 PMCID: PMC10665282 DOI: 10.1186/s40658-023-00582-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Commissioning, calibration, and quality control procedures for nuclear medicine imaging systems are typically performed using hollow containers filled with radionuclide solutions. This leads to multiple sources of uncertainty, many of which can be overcome by using traceable, sealed, long-lived surrogate sources containing a radionuclide of comparable energies and emission probabilities. This study presents the results of a quantitative SPECT/CT imaging comparison exercise performed within the MRTDosimetry consortium to assess the feasibility of using 133Ba as a surrogate for 131I imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two sets of four traceable 133Ba sources were produced at two National Metrology Institutes and encapsulated in 3D-printed cylinders (volume range 1.68-107.4 mL). Corresponding hollow cylinders to be filled with liquid 131I and a mounting baseplate for repeatable positioning within a Jaszczak phantom were also produced. A quantitative SPECT/CT imaging comparison exercise was conducted between seven members of the consortium (eight SPECT/CT systems from two major vendors) based on a standardised protocol. Each site had to perform three measurements with the two sets of 133Ba sources and liquid 131I. RESULTS As anticipated, the 131I pseudo-image calibration factors (cps/MBq) were higher than those for 133Ba for all reconstructions and systems. A site-specific cross-calibration reduced the performance differences between both radionuclides with respect to a cross-calibration based on the ratio of emission probabilities from a median of 12-1.5%. The site-specific cross-calibration method also showed agreement between 133Ba and 131I for all cylinder volumes, which highlights the potential use of 133Ba sources to calculate recovery coefficients for partial volume correction. CONCLUSION This comparison exercise demonstrated that traceable solid 133Ba sources can be used as surrogate for liquid 131I imaging. The use of solid surrogate sources could solve the radiation protection problem inherent in the preparation of phantoms with 131I liquid activity solutions as well as reduce the measurement uncertainties in the activity. This is particularly relevant for stability measurements, which have to be carried out at regular intervals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Tran-Gia
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Str. 6, 97080, Würzburg, Germany.
| | | | | | | | - Christophe Bobin
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, List, Laboratoire National Henri Becquerel (LNE-LNHB), 91120, Palaiseau, France
| | - Lara M Bonney
- Department of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Nicholas Calvert
- Christie Medical Physics and Engineering (CMPE), The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Sean M Collins
- National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington, UK
- School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | | | - Domenico Finocchiaro
- Medical Physics Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Federica Fioroni
- Medical Physics Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS Di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | | | - Elisa Grassi
- Medical Physics Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS Di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Warda Heetun
- National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington, UK
| | - Stephanie J Jewitt
- Department of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Maria Kotzasarlidou
- Nuclear Medicine Department, "THEAGENIO" Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Valérie Lourenço
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, List, Laboratoire National Henri Becquerel (LNE-LNHB), 91120, Palaiseau, France
| | - Daniel R McGowan
- Department of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Benoit Sabot
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, List, Laboratoire National Henri Becquerel (LNE-LNHB), 91120, Palaiseau, France
| | - James Scuffham
- Royal Surrey County Hospital, Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford, UK
| | | | - Jaroslav Solc
- Czech Metrology Institute, Okruzni 31, 638 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Cheick Thiam
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, List, Laboratoire National Henri Becquerel (LNE-LNHB), 91120, Palaiseau, France
| | - Jill Tipping
- Department of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Jill Wevrett
- Royal Surrey County Hospital, Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford, UK
| | - Michael Lassmann
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Str. 6, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
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Pells S, Cullen DM, Deidda D, Denis-Bacelar AM, Fenwick A, Ferreira KM, Hamilton D, Heetun W, Julyan P, Needham G, Pietras B, Price E, Scuffham J, Tipping J, Robinson AP. Quantitative validation of Monte Carlo SPECT simulation: application to a Mediso AnyScan GATE simulation. EJNMMI Phys 2023; 10:60. [PMID: 37777689 PMCID: PMC10542438 DOI: 10.1186/s40658-023-00581-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Monte Carlo (MC) simulations are used in nuclear medicine imaging as they provide unparalleled insight into processes that are not directly experimentally measurable, such as scatter and attenuation in an acquisition. Whilst MC is often used to provide a 'ground-truth', this is only the case if the simulation is fully validated against experimental data. This work presents a quantitative validation for a MC simulation of a single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system. METHODS An MC simulation model of the Mediso AnyScan SCP SPECT system installed at the UK National Physical Laboratory was developed in the GATE (Geant4 Application for Tomographic Emission) toolkit. Components of the detector head and two collimator configurations were modelled according to technical specifications and physical measurements. Experimental detection efficiency measurements were collected for a range of energies, permitting an energy-dependent intrinsic camera efficiency correction function to be determined and applied to the simulation on an event-by-event basis. Experimental data were collected in a range of geometries with [Formula: see text]Tc for comparison to simulation. The procedure was then repeated with [Formula: see text]Lu to determine how the validation extended to another isotope and set of collimators. RESULTS The simulation's spatial resolution, sensitivity, energy spectra and the projection images were compared with experimental measurements. The simulation and experimental uncertainties were determined and propagated to all calculations, permitting the quantitative agreement between simulated and experimental SPECT acquisitions to be determined. Statistical agreement was seen in sinograms and projection images of both [Formula: see text]Tc and [Formula: see text]Lu data. Average simulated and experimental sensitivity ratios of ([Formula: see text]) were seen for emission and scatter windows of [Formula: see text]Tc, and ([Formula: see text]) and ([Formula: see text]) for the 113 and 208 keV emissions of [Formula: see text]Lu, respectively. CONCLUSIONS MC simulations will always be an approximation of a physical system and the level of agreement should be assessed. A validation method is presented to quantify the level of agreement between a simulation model and a physical SPECT system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Pells
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
- National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK.
- Department of Radiology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
| | - David M Cullen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Peter Julyan
- The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - George Needham
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Ben Pietras
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Emlyn Price
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - James Scuffham
- National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK
- Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, UK
| | - Jill Tipping
- The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Andrew P Robinson
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK
- The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
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Schiebler T, Apostolova I, Mathies FL, Lange C, Klutmann S, Buchert R. No impact of attenuation and scatter correction on the interpretation of dopamine transporter SPECT in patients with clinically uncertain parkinsonian syndrome. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2023; 50:3302-3312. [PMID: 37328621 PMCID: PMC10541531 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-023-06293-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The benefit from attenuation and scatter correction (ASC) of dopamine transporter (DAT)-SPECT for the detection of nigrostriatal degeneration in clinical routine is still a matter of debate. The current study evaluated the impact of ASC on visual interpretation and semi-quantitative analysis of DAT-SPECT in a large patient sample. METHODS One thousand seven hundred forty consecutive DAT-SPECT with 123I-FP-CIT from clinical routine were included retrospectively. SPECT images were reconstructed iteratively without and with ASC. Attenuation correction was based on uniform attenuation maps, scatter correction on simulation. All SPECT images were categorized with respect to the presence versus the absence of Parkinson-typical reduction of striatal 123I-FP-CIT uptake by three independent readers. Image reading was performed twice to assess intra-reader variability. The specific 123I-FP-CIT binding ratio (SBR) was used for automatic categorization, separately with and without ASC. RESULTS The mean proportion of cases with discrepant categorization by the same reader between the two reading sessions was practically the same without and with ASC, about 2.2%. The proportion of DAT-SPECT with discrepant categorization without versus with ASC by the same reader was 1.66% ± 0.50% (1.09-1.95%), not exceeding the benchmark of 2.2% from intra-reader variability. This also applied to automatic categorization of the DAT-SPECT images based on the putamen SBR (1.78% discrepant cases between without versus with ASC). CONCLUSION Given the large sample size, the current findings provide strong evidence against a relevant impact of ASC with uniform attenuation and simulation-based scatter correction on the clinical utility of DAT-SPECT to detect nigrostriatal degeneration in patients with clinically uncertain parkinsonian syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tassilo Schiebler
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr, 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ivayla Apostolova
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr, 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Franziska Lara Mathies
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr, 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Catharina Lange
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Klutmann
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr, 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ralph Buchert
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr, 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
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Absolute Quantification in Diagnostic SPECT/CT: The Phantom Premise. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11122333. [PMID: 34943570 PMCID: PMC8700635 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11122333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The application of absolute quantification in SPECT/CT has seen increased interest in the context of radionuclide therapies where patient-specific dosimetry is a requirement within the European Union (EU) legislation. However, the translation of this technique to diagnostic nuclear medicine outside this setting is rather slow. Clinical research has, in some examples, already shown an association between imaging metrics and clinical diagnosis, but the applications, in general, lack proper validation because of the absence of a ground truth measurement. Meanwhile, additive manufacturing or 3D printing has seen rapid improvements, increasing its uptake in medical imaging. Three-dimensional printed phantoms have already made a significant impact on quantitative imaging, a trend that is likely to increase in the future. In this review, we summarize the data of recent literature to underpin our premise that the validation of diagnostic applications in nuclear medicine using application-specific phantoms is within reach given the current state-of-the-art in additive manufacturing or 3D printing.
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Tran-Gia J, Denis-Bacelar AM, Ferreira KM, Robinson AP, Calvert N, Fenwick AJ, Finocchiaro D, Fioroni F, Grassi E, Heetun W, Jewitt SJ, Kotzassarlidou M, Ljungberg M, McGowan DR, Scott N, Scuffham J, Gleisner KS, Tipping J, Wevrett J, Lassmann M. A multicentre and multi-national evaluation of the accuracy of quantitative Lu-177 SPECT/CT imaging performed within the MRTDosimetry project. EJNMMI Phys 2021; 8:55. [PMID: 34297218 PMCID: PMC8302709 DOI: 10.1186/s40658-021-00397-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Patient-specific dosimetry is required to ensure the safety of molecular radiotherapy and to predict response. Dosimetry involves several steps, the first of which is the determination of the activity of the radiopharmaceutical taken up by an organ/lesion over time. As uncertainties propagate along each of the subsequent steps (integration of the time-activity curve, absorbed dose calculation), establishing a reliable activity quantification is essential. The MRTDosimetry project was a European initiative to bring together expertise in metrology and nuclear medicine research, with one main goal of standardizing quantitative 177Lu SPECT/CT imaging based on a calibration protocol developed and tested in a multicentre inter-comparison. This study presents the setup and results of this comparison exercise. METHODS The inter-comparison included nine SPECT/CT systems. Each site performed a set of three measurements with the same setup (system, acquisition and reconstruction): (1) Determination of an image calibration for conversion from counts to activity concentration (large cylinder phantom), (2) determination of recovery coefficients for partial volume correction (IEC NEMA PET body phantom with sphere inserts), (3) validation of the established quantitative imaging setup using a 3D printed two-organ phantom (ICRP110-based kidney and spleen). In contrast to previous efforts, traceability of the activity measurement was required for each participant, and all participants were asked to calculate uncertainties for their SPECT-based activities. RESULTS Similar combinations of imaging system and reconstruction lead to similar image calibration factors. The activity ratio results of the anthropomorphic phantom validation demonstrate significant harmonization of quantitative imaging performance between the sites with all sites falling within one standard deviation of the mean values for all inserts. Activity recovery was underestimated for total kidney, spleen, and kidney cortex, while it was overestimated for the medulla. CONCLUSION This international comparison exercise demonstrates that harmonization of quantitative SPECT/CT is feasible when following very specific instructions of a dedicated calibration protocol, as developed within the MRTDosimetry project. While quantitative imaging performance demonstrates significant harmonization, an over- and underestimation of the activity recovery highlights the limitations of any partial volume correction in the presence of spill-in and spill-out between two adjacent volumes of interests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Tran-Gia
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Str. 6, 97080, Würzburg, Germany.
| | | | | | - Andrew P Robinson
- National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK
- Christie Medical Physics and Engineering (CMPE), The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
- The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Nicholas Calvert
- Christie Medical Physics and Engineering (CMPE), The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Andrew J Fenwick
- National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK
- Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Domenico Finocchiaro
- Medical Physics Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale di Reggio Emilia-IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Federica Fioroni
- Medical Physics Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale di Reggio Emilia-IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Elisa Grassi
- Medical Physics Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale di Reggio Emilia-IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | | | - Stephanie J Jewitt
- Radiation Physics and Protection, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Maria Kotzassarlidou
- Nuclear Medicine Department, "THEAGENIO" Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Daniel R McGowan
- Radiation Physics and Protection, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Nathaniel Scott
- Radiation Physics and Protection, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - James Scuffham
- National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK
- Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, UK
- Department of Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | | | - Jill Tipping
- Christie Medical Physics and Engineering (CMPE), The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Jill Wevrett
- National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK
- Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, UK
- Department of Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Michael Lassmann
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Str. 6, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
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7
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Lotter K, Diemling M, Sohlberg A, Wiedner H, Haug A, Maringer FJ. Comparing calculated and experimental activity and dose values obtained from image-based quantification of 90Y SPECT/CT Data. Z Med Phys 2021; 31:378-387. [PMID: 33966943 DOI: 10.1016/j.zemedi.2021.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) is a treatment for various kinds of liver tumours by injecting 90Y bearing microspheres into the liver vessels. To perform meaningful post-treatment dosimetry, quantitative imaging is performed. METHODS This work uses a Monte-Carlo based reconstruction software with scatter and attenuation correction and collimator modelling that allows the quantification of 90Y bremsstrahlung SPECT/CT data. A dataset comprising 17 patients and measurements on a Jaszczak phantom, a NEMA IEC Body phantom and an anthropomorphic liver phantom are analysed and activities and dose values are acquired. These measured values are compared with applied activities and pre-treatment calculations, allowing to assess the quality of the SPECT reconstruction. A detailed uncertainty budget is presented, including uncertainties of the dose calibrator, the count rate, non-included interactions and other factors. RESULTS The applied method is validated by finding measurements repeatable within the given uncertainty, and it is shown the influence of various parameters on the reconstruction process is negligible. Furthermore, activities and doses measured in the phantoms show good agreement with calculated values, if they are corrected for partial volume effects. CONCLUSIONS The strict observation of metrological requirements and the creation of an uncertainty budget increase the reliability and traceability of this novel approach to 90Y dosimetry. It gives an example of successful voxel-based dosimetry based on quantitative 90Y SPECT/CT image data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konrad Lotter
- Technische Universität Wien - Technical University of Vienna, Karlsplatz 13, 1040 Wien, Austria.
| | - Markus Diemling
- HERMES Medical Solutions, Skeppsbron 44, 111 30 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Antti Sohlberg
- HERMES Medical Solutions, Skeppsbron 44, 111 30 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hannah Wiedner
- Bundesamt für Eich- und Vermessungswesen, Arltgasse 35, 1160 Wien, Austria
| | - Alexander Haug
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090 Wien, Austria
| | - Franz Josef Maringer
- Technische Universität Wien - Technical University of Vienna, Karlsplatz 13, 1040 Wien, Austria; Bundesamt für Eich- und Vermessungswesen, Arltgasse 35, 1160 Wien, Austria
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8
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Kangasmaa T, Hippeläinen E, Constable C, Turunen S, Sohlberg A. Quantitative Monte Carlo-based brain dopamine transporter SPECT imaging. Ann Nucl Med 2021; 35:17-23. [PMID: 32978713 DOI: 10.1007/s12149-020-01532-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Brain dopamine transporter imaging with I-123-labeled radioligands is technically demanding due to the small size of the imaging target relative to the spatial resolution of most SPECT systems. In addition, I-123 has high-energy peaks which can penetrate or scatter in the collimator and be detected in the imaging energy window. The aim of this study was to implement Monte Carlo (MC)-based full collimator-detector response (CDR) compensation algorithm for I-123 into a third-party commercial SPECT reconstruction software package and to evaluate its effect on the quantitative accuracy of dopaminergic-image analysis compared to a method where only the geometric component of the CDR is compensated. METHODS In this work, we utilized a full Monte Carlo collimator-detector model and incorporated it into an iterative SPECT reconstruction algorithm. The full Monte Carlo model reconstruction was compared to standard reconstruction using an anthropomorphic striatal phantom filled with different I-123 striatal/cortex uptake ratios and with clinical I-123 Ioflupane DaTScan studies. RESULTS Reconstruction with the full model yielded higher (13-25%) striatal uptake ratios than the conventional reconstruction, but the uptake ratios were still much lower than the true ratios due to partial volume effect. Visually, images reconstructed with the full Monte Carlo model had better contrast and resolution than the conventional images, with both phantom and patient studies. CONCLUSIONS Reconstruction with full Monte Carlo collimator-detector model yields higher quantitative accuracy than conventional reconstruction. Additional work to reduce the partial volume effect related errors would improve the accuracy further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuija Kangasmaa
- Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Vaasa Central Hospital, Hietalahdenkatu 2-4, 65130, Vaasa, Finland.
| | - Eero Hippeläinen
- Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, HUS Medical Imaging Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4, 00029, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Chris Constable
- HERMES Medical Solutions, Strandbergsgatan 16, 11251, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sampsa Turunen
- Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, HUS Medical Imaging Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4, 00029, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Antti Sohlberg
- HERMES Medical Solutions, Strandbergsgatan 16, 11251, Stockholm, Sweden
- Laboratory of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Keskussairaalankatu 7, 15850, Lahti, Finland
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Roberts G, Lloyd JJ, Petrides GS, O'Brien JT, Thomas AJ. Cardiac 123I-MIBG planar heart to mediastinum ratios depend on patient size; phantom studies suggest SPECT-CT could improve quantification. Biomed Phys Eng Express 2019; 6:015011. [PMID: 33438599 DOI: 10.1088/2057-1976/ab5c09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Planar 123I-MIBG (meta-iodobenzylguanidine) cardiac imaging is listed as an indicative biomarker in the 2017 international consensus criteria for the diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies. There has been very little research into the relationship between apparent cardiac uptake and patient size, or in the possible advantage of attenuation and scatter corrected SPECT-CT compared to planar imaging. We aimed to evaluate this in both a chest phantom and in older adults with normal cognition. MATERIALS AND METHODS An anthropomorphic chest phantom was filled with 123I solution using activities typical of healthy subjects. The phantom was scanned on a Siemens Intevo gamma camera with MELP collimators using both planar and SPECT-CT techniques. Further scans were acquired with a PMMA chest plate added, then water filled plastic breasts. The SPECT-CT images were reconstructed using a resolution recovery OSEM method with and without attenuation and scatter correction (ACSC) applied. Twenty-nine adults over 60 years of age (mean 75.2 ± 8.3 years) underwent planar cardiac MIBG imaging, followed by SPECT-CT. SPECT images were reconstructed as above. Heart-to-mediastinum ratios (HMRs) were calculated for planar and SPECT images. RESULTS Phantom planar HMR decreased by 20% with the PMMA chest plate added; 39% with plate and breasts. ACSC SPECT cardiac counts showed less dependence on phantom size than SPECT without ACSC (3% versus 37%). The body mass indices (BMI) of the older adults ranged from 22 to 38. There was a significant linear relationship between planar HMR and BMI (R2 = 0.44, p<0.01), but not for ACSC SPECT. However, there was no significant difference between the slopes for planar and ACSC SPECT (p = 0.11). CONCLUSION Planar cardiac 123I-MIBG HMR results are correlated with BMI. Phantom results suggest that ACSC SPECT can correct for patient size. A large patient population or clinical database would be required to demonstrate a clinical effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Roberts
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Biomedical Research Building, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Westgate Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne. NE4 6BE, United Kingdom. Nuclear Medicine Department, Leazes Wing, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Richardson Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne. NE1 4LP, United Kingdom
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Gregory RA, Murray I, Gear J, Leek F, Chittenden S, Fenwick A, Wevrett J, Scuffham J, Tipping J, Murby B, Jeans S, Stuffins M, Michopoulou S, Guy M, Morgan D, Hallam A, Hall D, Polydor H, Brown C, Gillen G, Dickson N, Brown S, Wadsley J, Flux G. Standardised quantitative radioiodine SPECT/CT Imaging for multicentre dosimetry trials in molecular radiotherapy. Phys Med Biol 2019; 64:245013. [PMID: 31766032 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/ab5b6c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The SEL-I-METRY trial (EudraCT No 2015-002269-47) is the first multicentre trial to investigate the role of 123I and 131I SPECT/CT-based tumour dosimetry to predict response to radioiodine therapy. Standardised dosimetry methodology is essential to provide a robust evidence-base for absorbed dose-response thresholds for molecular radiotherapy (MRT). In this paper a practical standardised protocol is used to establish the first network of centres with consistent methods of radioiodine activity quantification. Nine SPECT/CT systems at eight centres were set-up for quantitative radioiodine imaging. The dead-time of the systems was characterised for up to 2.8 GBq 131I. Volume dependent calibration factors were measured on centrally reconstructed images of 123I and 131I in six (0.8-196 ml) cylinders. Validation of image quantification using these calibration factors was performed on three systems, by imaging a 3D-printed phantom mimicking a patient's activity distribution. The percentage differences between the activities measured in the SPECT/CT image and those measured by the radionuclide calibrator were calculated. Additionally uncertainties on the SPECT/CT-based activities were calculated to indicate the limit on the quantitative accuracy of this method. For systems set-up to image high 131I count rates, the count rate versus activity did not peak below 2.8 GBq and fit a non-paralysable model. The dead-times and volume-dependent calibration factors were comparable between systems of the same model and crystal thickness. Therefore a global calibration curve could be fitted to each. The errors on the validation phantom activities' were comparable to the measurement uncertainties derived from uncertainty analysis, at 10% and 16% on average for 123I and 131I respectively in a 5 cm sphere. In conclusion, the dead-time and calibration factors varied between centres, with different models of system. However, global calibration factors may be applied to the same system model with the same crystal thickness, to simplify set-up of future multi-centre MRT studies.
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Evaluation of quantitative 123I and 131I SPECT with Monte Carlo-based down-scatter compensation. Nucl Med Commun 2018; 39:1097-1102. [PMID: 30222722 DOI: 10.1097/mnm.0000000000000920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Quantitative I and I single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is hampered by down-scatter from the high-energy peaks. This paper presents a down-scatter compensation method, where down-scatter generated in the patient and gamma camera collimator and detector is modelled using Monte Carlo simulation in the ordered subsets expectation maximization SPECT reconstruction algorithm. MATERIALS AND METHODS The new down-scatter compensation method was compared with conventional triple energy window (TEW) scatter compensation and Gaussian convolution-based forced detection Monte Carlo methods. The comparison was made with the NEMA-IEC phantom using six spherical inserts (diameters from 10 to 37 mm) and a lung compartment. The phantom was filled with I and I solutions to known sphere-to-background concentration ratios. Spherical volumes of interest with the same diameter as the inserts were drawn on the images, and recovery coefficients for the spheres were calculated in addition to lung-to-background ratio. RESULTS The new down-scatter compensation method provided higher recovery coefficients than the TEW scatter compensation or Gaussian convolution-based forced detection Monte Carlo algorithm for both isotopes. Background activity concentration could be accurately estimated with the new down-scatter compensation method and with the TEW scatter compensation, whereas activity concentration of the spheres was severely underestimated even with the new method. CONCLUSION Down-scatter compensation with Monte Carlo-simulation effectively reduces down-scatter effects in I and I SPECT imaging.
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Porter CA, Bradley KM, Hippeläinen ET, Walker MD, McGowan DR. Phantom and clinical evaluation of the effect of full Monte Carlo collimator modelling in post-SIRT yttrium-90 Bremsstrahlung SPECT imaging. EJNMMI Res 2018; 8:7. [PMID: 29356993 PMCID: PMC5778088 DOI: 10.1186/s13550-018-0361-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Post-therapy SPECT/CT imaging of 90Y microspheres delivered to hepatic malignancies is difficult, owing to the continuous, high-energy Bremsstrahlung spectrum emitted by 90Y. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of a commercially available software package (HybridRecon, Hermes Medical Solutions AB) which incorporates full Monte Carlo collimator modelling. Analysis of image quality was performed on both phantom and clinical images in order to ultimately provide a recommendation of an optimum reconstruction for post-therapy 90Y microsphere SPECT/CT imaging. A 3D-printed anthropomorphic liver phantom was filled with 90Y with a sphere-to-background ratio of 4:1 and imaged on a GE Discovery 670 SPECT/CT camera. Datasets were reconstructed using ordered-subsets expectation maximization (OSEM) 1–7 iterations in order to identify the optimal OSEM reconstruction (5 iterations, 15 subsets). Quantitative analysis was subsequently carried out on phantom datasets obtained using four reconstruction algorithms: the default OSEM protocol (2 iterations, 10 subsets) and the optimised OSEM protocol, both with and without full Monte Carlo collimator modelling. The quantitative metrics contrast recovery (CR) and background variability (BV) were calculated. The four algorithms were then used to retrospectively reconstruct 10 selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) patient datasets which were subsequently blind scored for image quality by a consultant radiologist. Results The optimised OSEM reconstruction (5 iterations, 15 subsets with full MC collimator modelling) increased the CR by 42% (p < 0.001) compared to the default OSEM protocol (2 iterations, 10 subsets). The use of full Monte Carlo collimator modelling was shown to further improve CR by 14% (30 mm sphere, CR = 90%, p < 0.05). The consultant radiologist had a significant preference for the optimised OSEM over the default OSEM protocol (p < 0.001), with the optimised OSEM being the favoured reconstruction in every one of the 10 clinical cases presented. Conclusions OSEM (5 iterations, 15 subsets) with full Monte Carlo collimator modelling is quantitatively the optimal image reconstruction for post-SIRT 90Y Bremsstrahlung SPECT/CT imaging. The use of full Monte Carlo collimator modelling for correction of image-degrading effects significantly increases contrast recovery without degrading clinical image quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte A Porter
- Radiation Physics and Protection, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK.
| | - Kevin M Bradley
- Department of Radiology, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Eero T Hippeläinen
- HUS Medical Imaging Centre, Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Matthew D Walker
- Radiation Physics and Protection, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Daniel R McGowan
- Radiation Physics and Protection, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK.,Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK
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Fast GPU-based Monte Carlo code for SPECT/CT reconstructions generates improved 177Lu images. EJNMMI Phys 2018; 5:1. [PMID: 29302810 PMCID: PMC5754277 DOI: 10.1186/s40658-017-0201-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Full Monte Carlo (MC)-based SPECT reconstructions have a strong potential for correcting for image degrading factors, but the reconstruction times are long. The objective of this study was to develop a highly parallel Monte Carlo code for fast, ordered subset expectation maximum (OSEM) reconstructions of SPECT/CT images. The MC code was written in the Compute Unified Device Architecture language for a computer with four graphics processing units (GPUs) (GeForce GTX Titan X, Nvidia, USA). This enabled simulations of parallel photon emissions from the voxels matrix (1283 or 2563). Each computed tomography (CT) number was converted to attenuation coefficients for photo absorption, coherent scattering, and incoherent scattering. For photon scattering, the deflection angle was determined by the differential scattering cross sections. An angular response function was developed and used to model the accepted angles for photon interaction with the crystal, and a detector scattering kernel was used for modeling the photon scattering in the detector. Predefined energy and spatial resolution kernels for the crystal were used. The MC code was implemented in the OSEM reconstruction of clinical and phantom 177Lu SPECT/CT images. The Jaszczak image quality phantom was used to evaluate the performance of the MC reconstruction in comparison with attenuated corrected (AC) OSEM reconstructions and attenuated corrected OSEM reconstructions with resolution recovery corrections (RRC). Result The performance of the MC code was 3200 million photons/s. The required number of photons emitted per voxel to obtain a sufficiently low noise level in the simulated image was 200 for a 1283 voxel matrix. With this number of emitted photons/voxel, the MC-based OSEM reconstruction with ten subsets was performed within 20 s/iteration. The images converged after around six iterations. Therefore, the reconstruction time was around 3 min. The activity recovery for the spheres in the Jaszczak phantom was clearly improved with MC-based OSEM reconstruction, e.g., the activity recovery was 88% for the largest sphere, while it was 66% for AC-OSEM and 79% for RRC-OSEM. Conclusion The GPU-based MC code generated an MC-based SPECT/CT reconstruction within a few minutes, and reconstructed patient images of 177Lu-DOTATATE treatments revealed clearly improved resolution and contrast.
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Dosimetry software Hermes Internal Radiation Dosimetry: from quantitative image reconstruction to voxel-level absorbed dose distribution. Nucl Med Commun 2017; 38:357-365. [PMID: 28338529 DOI: 10.1097/mnm.0000000000000662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this work is to validate a software package called Hermes Internal Radiation Dosimetry (HIRD) for internal dose assessment tailored for clinical practice. The software includes all the necessary steps to perform voxel-level absorbed dose calculations including quantitative reconstruction, image coregistration and volume of interest tools. METHODS The basics of voxel-level dosimetry methods and implementations to HIRD software are reviewed. Then, HIRD is validated using simulated SPECT/CT data and data from Lu-DOTATATE-treated patients by comparing absorbed kidney doses with OLINDA/EXM-based dosimetry. In addition, electron and photon dose components are studied separately in an example patient case. RESULTS The simulation study showed that HIRD can reproduce time-activity curves accurately and produce absorbed doses with less than 10% error for the kidneys, liver and spleen. From the patient data, the absorbed kidney doses calculated using HIRD and using OLINDA/EXM were highly correlated (Pearson's correlation coefficient, r=0.98). From Bland-Altman plot analysis, an average absorbed dose difference of -2% was found between the methods. In addition, we found that in Lu-DOTATATE-treated patients, photons can contribute over 10% of the kidney's total dose and is partly because of cross-irradiation from high-uptake lesions close to the kidneys. CONCLUSION HIRD is a straightforward voxel-level internal dosimetry software. Its clinical utility was verified with simulated and clinical Lu-DOTATATE-treated patient data. Patient studies also showed that photon contribution towards the total dose can be relatively high and voxel-level dose calculations can be valuable in cases where the target organ is in close proximity to high-uptake organs.
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Hippeläinen E, Tenhunen M, Sohlberg A. Fast voxel-level dosimetry for (177)Lu labelled peptide treatments. Phys Med Biol 2015; 60:6685-700. [PMID: 26270032 DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/60/17/6685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
In peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), voxel-level radiation absorbed dose calculations can be performed using several different methods. Each method has it strengths and weaknesses; however, Monte Carlo (MC) simulation is presently considered the most accurate method at providing absorbed dose distributions. Unfortunately MC simulation is time-consuming and often impractical to carry out in a clinical practice. In this work, a fast semi-Monte Carlo (sMC) absorbed dose calculation method for (177)Lu PRRT dosimetry is presented. The sMC method is based on a local electron absorption assumption and fast photon MC simulations. The sMC method is compared against full MC simulation code built on PENELOPE (vxlPen) using digital phantoms to assess the accuracy of these assumptions.Due to the local electron absorption assumption of sMC, the potential errors in cross-fire dose from electrons and photons emitted by (177)Lu were first evaluated using an ellipsoidal kidney model by comparing vxlPen and sMC. The photon cross-fire dose from background to kidney and kidney to background with varying kidney-to-background activity concentration ratios were calculated. In addition, kidney to kidney photon and electron cross-dose with different kidney to kidney distances were studied. Second, extended cardiac-torso (XCAT) phantoms were created with liver lesions and with realistic activity distributions and tissue densities. The XCAT phantoms were used to simulate SPECT projections and 3D activity distribution images were reconstructed using an OSEM algorithm. Image-based dose rate distributions were calculated using vxlPen and sMC. Total doses and dose rate volume histograms (DrVH) produced by the two methods were compared.The photon cross-fire dose from the kidney increased the background's absorbed dose by 5% or more up to 5.8 cm distance with 20 : 1 kidney to background activity concentration ratio. On the other hand, the photon cross-fire dose from the background to the kidney volume was negligible. The vxlPen results showed that the cross fire dose between two similar kidney volumes relative to the source kidney's self-dose were 0.5% and 0.02% for photon and electrons, respectively, when source and target kidneys were modelled next to each other. The photon cross-dose decreased as function of distance, and electron doses were zero at distances larger than 4 mm. The difference between sMC and vxlPen kidney total doses in the XCAT phantom study was -0.4% while the electron dose DrVHs were identical between the methods. There was a systematic 5% difference in photon doses in soft tissue between the codes due to different simulations parameters. However, the photons produced only 4% of the kidney's total dose, thus the difference was not considered significant for total dose calculations.The comparison studies show that the absorbed doses calculated using the sMC differ only slightly from dedicated MC simulator results, while the dose estimates can be obtained in a fraction of the dedicated simulator's calculation time. Results imply that there is no need for electron MC simulation for (177)Lu absorption calculations with current SPECT systems. However, the photon cross-fire dose should be taken into account in healthy tissues, which have a relatively low uptake especially in cases where there are high uptake volumes are nearby.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Hippeläinen
- Clinical Research Institute HUCH Ltd, Helsinki, Finland. Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, PO Box 64, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland. Helsinki University Central Hospital, Hus Medical Imaging Center, POB 340, FI-00029, Helsinki, Finland
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Optimisation of simultaneous tl-201/tc-99m dual isotope reconstruction with monte-carlo-based scatter correction. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR IMAGING 2012; 2012:695632. [PMID: 23213515 PMCID: PMC3506904 DOI: 10.1155/2012/695632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2012] [Revised: 10/09/2012] [Accepted: 10/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Simultaneous Tl-201/Tc-99m dual isotope myocardial perfusion SPECT is seriously hampered by down-scatter from Tc-99m into the Tl-201 energy window. This paper presents and optimises the ordered-subsets-expectation-maximisation-(OS-EM-) based reconstruction algorithm, which corrects the down-scatter using an efficient Monte Carlo (MC) simulator. The algorithm starts by first reconstructing the Tc-99m image with attenuation, collimator response, and MC-based scatter correction. The reconstructed Tc-99m image is then used as an input for an efficient MC-based down-scatter simulation of Tc-99m photons into the Tl-201 window. This down-scatter estimate is finally used in the Tl-201 reconstruction to correct the crosstalk between the two isotopes. The mathematical 4D NCAT phantom and physical cardiac phantoms were used to optimise the number of OS-EM iterations where the scatter estimate is updated and the number of MC simulated photons. The results showed that two scatter update iterations and 10(5) simulated photons are enough for the Tc-99m and Tl-201 reconstructions, whereas 10(6) simulated photons are needed to generate good quality down-scatter estimates. With these parameters, the entire Tl-201/Tc-99m dual isotope reconstruction can be accomplished in less than 3 minutes.
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Momennezhad M, Sadeghi R, Nasseri S. Development of GATE Monte Carlo simulation for a dual-head gamma camera. Radiol Phys Technol 2012; 5:222-8. [PMID: 22588590 DOI: 10.1007/s12194-012-0157-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2011] [Revised: 04/21/2012] [Accepted: 04/25/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Momennezhad
- Nuclear Medicine Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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