Impact of event positioning algorithm on performance of a whole-body PET scanner using one-to-one coupled detectors.

Impact of event positioning algorithm on performance of a whole-body PET scanner using one-to-one coupled detectors.
Phys Med Biol. 2018 Feb 07;:
Authors: Surti S, Karp JS
Abstract
The advent of silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) has introduced the possibility of increased detector performance in commercial whole-body PET scanners. The primary advantage of these photodetectors is the ability to couple a single SiPM channel directly to a single pixel of PET scintillator that is typically 4 mm wide (one-to-one coupled detector design). We performed simulation studies to evaluate the impact of three different event positioning algorithms in such detectors: i) a weighted energy centroid positioning (Anger logic), ii) identifying the crystal with maximum energy deposition (1<sup>st</sup> max crystal), and iii) identifying the crystal with second highest energy deposition (2<sup>nd</sup> max crystal). Detector simulations performed with LSO crystals indicate reduced positioning errors when using the 2<sup>nd</sup> max crystal positioning algorithm. These studies are performed over a range of crystal cross-sections varying from 1x1 mm<sup>2</sup> to 4x4mm<sup>2</sup> as well as crystal thickness of 1 cm to 3 cm. System simulations were performed for a whole-body PET scanner (85 cm ring diameter) with a lo...

Source: Physics in Medicine and Biology - February 7, 2018 Category: Physics Authors: Surti S, Karp JS Tags: Phys Med Biol Source Type: research