Performance evaluation of PET/CT based on silicon photomultiplier and photomultiplier tube under clinical imaging conditions
10.3760/cma.j.cn112271-20240116-00019
- VernacularTitle:基于硅光电倍增管和传统光电倍增管两种机型PET/CT临床成像条件下性能研究
- Author:
Xuesong SU
1
;
Jianhua GENG
;
Yibin WANG
;
Xuejuan WANG
;
Rong ZHENG
;
Jing LI
Author Information
1. 国家癌症中心 国家肿瘤临床医学研究中心 中国医学科学院北京协和医学院肿瘤医院核医学科，北京 100021
- Keywords:
Positron emission tomography (PET);
Conventional photomultiplier tube;
SiPM;
Spatial resolution;
Image quality
- From:
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection
2024;44(5):428-435
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the spatial resolution and image quality of positron emission tomography and X-ray computed tomography (PET/CT) based on the next-generation silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) and the conventional photomultiplier tube (PMT) and to explore the effects of different PET photoelectric transducers (PMT and SiPM) and the Q. Clear algorithm on the spatial resolution, quantitative accuracy, and image quality of PET/CT.Methods:GE Discovery Elite PET/CT (PMT PET/CT) and GE Discovery Meaningful Insights (MI) PET/CT (SiPM PET/CT) were employed to scan the elliptical resolution phantom and NEMA NU2-2018 image quality phantom. Using the OSEM+ PSF+ TOF (VPFX-S) algorithm, image reconstruction was performed based on raw data of both phantoms. For the MI-acquired phantom data, additional reconstructions were conducted using the Q. Clear algorithm, with β values ranging from 150 to 550 and an increment of 100. For the elliptical resolution phantom, the radial, tangential, and axial full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) values of five line sources in three slices were calculated and averaged. For the image quality phantom, the recovery coefficient (RC), contrast recovery coefficient (CRC), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), percentage of background variability (PBV), background coefficient of variability (BCV) of the spheres, as well as the residual error (RE) of lung inserts at different image slices, were calculated.Results:Compared to Elite, MI (VPFX-S) showed decreases in the radial, tangential, and axial FWHM of 4.25%-13.58%, 7.00%-13.22%, and 6.02%-36.14%, respectively; no significant difference in RCmax for the spheres; increases in spheres′ CRC and CNR of 10.17%-38.89% and 38.31%-94.95%, respectively, and decreases in spheres′ PBV and BCV of 26.20%-33.82% and 31.29%-35.97%, respectively. When compared to MI (VPFX-S), MI (Q.Clear) showed decreases in the radial, tangential, and axial FWHM of 6.49%-45.02%, 7.80%-35.60%, and 13.31%-36.80%, respectively; an increase in spheres′ CNR of 38.31%-94.95%; decreases in spheres′ PBV and BCV of 26.20%-33.82% and 6.64%-10.31%, respectively, and no significant difference in spheres′ RC. With an increase in the β value, the CNR, RE, and FWHM in radial, tangential, and axial directions derived from MI (Q.Clear) increased, while RC, CRC, PBV, and BCV decreased. Conclusions:Under image reconstruction using VPFX-S, the next-generation SiPM PET/CT exhibits elevated spatial resolution, hot lesion contrast, detectability, and background noise compared to the PMT PET/CT. Compared to OSEM, the Q. Clear algorithm improves spatial resolution, quantitative accuracy, and image quality, with such improvement related to the β value. The β value affects the outcomes of the Q. Clear algorithm, especially the maximum quantitative value of small lesions. This is particularly important for improving clinical diagnostic capabilities.
