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Ter Voert EEGW, Veit-Haibach P, Ahn S, Wiesinger F, Khalighi MM, Levin CS, Iagaru AH, Zaharchuk G, Huellner M, Delso G. Clinical evaluation of TOF versus non-TOF on PET artifacts in simultaneous PET/MR: a dual centre experience. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2017; 44:1223-1233. [PMID: 28124091 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-017-3619-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE 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. METHODS 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). RESULTS 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. CONCLUSION 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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwin E G W Ter Voert
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, CH-8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
- University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Patrick Veit-Haibach
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, CH-8091, Zurich, Switzerland
- University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Craig S Levin
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Andrei H Iagaru
- Department of Radiology, Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Greg Zaharchuk
- Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Martin Huellner
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, CH-8091, Zurich, Switzerland
- University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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