Bias in PET Images of Solid Phantoms Due to CT-Based Attenuation Correction

Darrin W Byrd; John J Sunderland; Tzu-Cheng Lee; Paul E Kinahan

doi:10.18383/j.tom.2018.00043

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Bias in PET Images of Solid Phantoms Due to CT-Based Attenuation Correction

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Bias in PET Images of Solid Phantoms Due to CT-Based Attenuation Correction

Darrin W Byrd, John J Sunderland, Tzu-Cheng Lee and Paul E Kinahan

Tomography (Ann Arbor), Vol.5(1), pp.154-160

03/2019

DOI: 10.18383/j.tom.2018.00043

PMCID: PMC6403023

PMID: 30854453

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https://doi.org/10.18383/j.tom.2018.00043View

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Abstract

The use of computed tomography (CT) images to correct for photon attenuation in positron emission tomography (PET) produces unbiased patient images, but it is not optimal for synthetic materials. For test objects made from epoxy, image bias and artifacts have been observed in well-calibrated PET/CT scanners. An epoxy used in commercially available sources was infused with long-lived Ge/ Ga nuclide and measured on several PET/CT scanners as well as on older PET scanners that measured attenuation with 511-keV photons. Bias in attenuation maps and PET images of phantoms was measured as imaging parameters and methods varied. Changes were made to the PET reconstruction to show the influence of CT-based attenuation correction. Additional attenuation measurements were made with a new epoxy intended for use in radiology and radiation treatment whose photonic properties mimic water. PET images of solid phantoms were biased by between 3% and 24% across variations in CT X-ray energy and scanner manufacturer. Modification of the reconstruction software reduced bias, but object-dependent changes were required to generate accurate attenuation maps. The water-mimicking epoxy formulation showed behavior similar to water in limited testing. For some solid phantoms, transformation of CT data to attenuation maps is a major source of PET image bias. The transformation can be modified to accommodate synthetic materials, but our data suggest that the problem may also be addressed by using epoxy formulations that are more compatible with PET/CT imaging.

Algorithms

Artifacts

Bias

Epoxy Resins

Equipment Design

Humans

Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted - methods

Phantoms, Imaging

Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography - methods

Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography - standards

Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Details

Title: Subtitle: Bias in PET Images of Solid Phantoms Due to CT-Based Attenuation Correction
Creators: Darrin W Byrd - University of Washington
John J Sunderland - University of Iowa
Tzu-Cheng Lee - University of Washington
Paul E Kinahan - University of Washington
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Tomography (Ann Arbor), Vol.5(1), pp.154-160
DOI: 10.18383/j.tom.2018.00043
PMID: 30854453
PMCID: PMC6403023
NLM abbreviation: Tomography
ISSN: 2379-1381
eISSN: 2379-139X
Grant note: P30 CA086862 / NCI NIH HHS R01 CA169072 / NCI NIH HHS U01 CA148131 / NCI NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 03/2019
Academic Unit: Radiology; Physics and Astronomy; Radiation Oncology
Record Identifier: 9984313090002771

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