Lecture5 B PET
Lecture5 B PET
Lecture5 B PET
18F
p n
n
n
pp p p pp
n npnn nn n
pnp p
np p
18O
p n
n
n
pp p p pp
n npnn nn n
pnp p
np n
Radioactive decay
unstable atomic nuclei due to too
many protons relative to the
number of neutrons
E = mc2
= 511 keV
~2 mm
e-
~180 deg
Types of Photons
X-ray photons
gamma () ray photons (Greek letters for
radiation from nuclear decay processes)
annihilation photons
all can have the same energy
glucose
gylcolysis
(anaerobic,
inefficient)
glucose 6phosphate
pyruvate
FDG
FDG 6phosphate
X
HOCH2
H
HO
O
H
OH
H
lactate
H
18
H
OH
radioactive
fluorine
TCA
(oxidative,
efficient)
what
we
see
high energy
511 keV photon
current
pulse for
each UV
photon
detected
scintillator
(e.g. BGO Dense
yet transparent)
photomultiplier
tubes (PMTs)
gain of ~ 106
Cost
Effective number
of scintillation
photons @ 511
keV determines
energy and spatial
resolution
Effective
Density
Decay
time (s)
determines
scanner
sensitivity
determine
s
deadtime
and
randoms
Comments
NaI(Tl) cheap
(relativel
y)
highest
lowest
long
Hygroscop
ic
BGO
expensiv
e
lowest
highest
long
workhorse
LSO
more
expensiv
e
high
high
very
short
new
technology
GSO
more
expensiv
e
very high
somewhat
lower than
LSO
very
short
new
technology
scanner
FOV
detector A
+ + eannihilation
t < 10 ns?
detector B
record
positron
decay
event
Detector
+ PMT
assemblies
What is Attenuation?
The single most important physical effect in PET imaging:
The number of detected photons is significantly reduced compared to
the number of positron decays in a spatially-dependent manner
For PET it is due to Compton scatter out of the detector ring
For CT it is a combination of Compton scatter and photoelectric
absorption
patient
scanner
Locally
increased
contrast
Enhanced 'skin'
Reduced interior
(even neg.!)
'hot' lungs
Nonuniform
liver
Enhanced
skin uptake
PET: without
attenuation correction
CT image (accurate)
Attenuation Correction
photon source
rotation
y
t
x
tissue density
tracer uptake
f (x, y)
scanner
FOV
Transmission (TX)
orbiting
68Ge/68Ga
source
near-side
detectors
(x,y)
511 keV
annihilation
photon
X-ray
detectors
(x,y)
30130 keV
X-ray photon
Energy spectra
Compton
scatter
absorbed
by septa
detected
detected
septa
2D Emission Scan
3D Emission Scan
2D Emission Scan
3D Emission Scan
NEC comparisons
Major arguing point for some vendors
Determined partly by detector type, detector and scanner
geometry, acquisition mode, and front-end electronics
Important, but not sole factor for image quality
Peak NEC rates
120
kcps
100
80
60
40
20
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Fillable spheres
Final Image
reconstructed values
timing
resolution
uncertainty
d = c t/2
+ + eannihilation
Philips Gemini TF
PET scanner
LYSO : 4 x 4 x 22 mm3
28,338 crystals, 420 PMTs
CT scanner
Brilliance 16-slice
Installation at U.Penn
Nov 05
Validation and research patient imaging
Nov 05 Apr 06
50 patients
Beta testing and upgrade to production release software
May 06 Jun 06
40 patients (to date)
Colon cancer
119 kg
BMI = 46.5
MIP
LDCT
non-TOF
TOF