• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.18-24
• /
• 2012

Purpose : Although lung ventilation SPECT (LV-SPECT) has a good sensitivity in detection of deep lung lesions, it is difficult to apply the LV-SPECT to patients having breathing problems due to limited examination time. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of LEAP collimator, which provides high detection sensitivity and tolerable resolution, for the LV-SPECT in terms of diagnostic accuracy and examination time. Materials and Methods : Four volunteers inhaled Technegas (370 MBq) and the lung ventilation planar scan (LVPS, 300 counts/view (cpv)) with LEHR collimator was performed using Siemens E.cam scanner as a reference test. LV-SPECT scans were performed with three collimators, LEHR, LEUHR, and LEAP, in low (7 kcpv) and high (70 kcpv) counting modes. The count ratios of left (LT) and right (RT) lung segments were calculated on the geometric mean view of anterior and posterior images for LVPS and on the summed coronal images of LV-SPECT, respectively. Comparing to LVPS, the usefulness of three different collimators for LV-SPECT was evaluated through statistical analysis (paired t-test), on count ratios of lung segments. Results : The average LT:RT ratio in LVPS was 47:53. For LV-SPECT, there were negligible difference of the LT:RT ratios (48:52 on average) among three different collimators in low and high counting modes. Comparing to standard LVPS with LEHR, all LV-SPECTs with different collimators resulted in similar diagnostic accuracy through paired t-test (p>0.05). The scan time in LVPS (6 views) was 17.3 min. For LV-SPECT (128 views) in low counting mode, it took 18.7 (LEUHR), 15.0 (LEHR), and 12.3 min (LEAP), respectively. Conclusion : Comparing to standard LVPS, the LV-SPECT with LEAP in low counting mode provided the comparable diagnostic accuracy in addition to shortened scan time.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.102-109
• /
• 2009

Purpose: Flash 3D (pixon(R) method; 3D OSEM) was developed as a software program to shorten exam time and improve image quality through reconstruction, it is an image processing method that usefully be applied to nuclear medicine tomography. If perfoming brain diamox perfusion scan by reconstructing subtracted images by Flash 3D with shortened image acquisition time, there was a problem that SNR of subtracted image is lower than basal image. To increase SNR of subtracted image, we use LEAP collimators, and we emphasized on sensitivity of vessel dilatation than resolution of brain vessel. In this study, our purpose is to confirm possibility of application of LEAP collimators at brain diamox perfusion tomography, identify proper reconstruction factors by using Flash 3D. Materials and methods: (1) The evaluation of phantom: We used Hoffman 3D Brain Phantom with $^{99m}Tc$. We obtained images by LEAP and LEHR collimators (diamox image) and after 6 hours (the half life of $^{99m}Tc$: 6 hours), we use obtained second image (basal image) by same method. Also, we acquired SNR and ratio of white matters/gray matters of each basal image and subtracted image. (2) The evaluation of patient's image: We quantitatively analyzed patients who were examined by LEAP collimators then was classified as a normal group and who were examined by LEHR collimators then was classified as a normal group from 2008. 05 to 2009. 01. We evaluate the results from phantom by substituting factors. We used one-day protocol and injected $^{99m}Tc$-ECD 925 MBq at both basal image acquisition and diamox image acquisition. Results: (1) The evaluation of phantom: After measuring counts from each detector, at basal image 41~46 kcount, stress image 79~90 kcount, subtraction image 40~47 kcount were detected. LEAP was about 102~113 kcount at basal image, 188~210 kcount at stress image and 94~103 at subtraction image kcount were detected. The SNR of LEHR subtraction image was decreased than LEHR basal image about 37%, the SNR of LEAP subtraction image was decreased than LEAP basal image about 17%. The ratio of gray matter versus white matter is 2.2:1 at LEHR basal image and 1.9:1 at subtraction, and at LEAP basal image was 2.4:1 and subtraction image was 2:1. (2) The evaluation of patient's image: the counts acquired by LEHR collimators are about 40~60 kcounts at basal image, and 80~100 kcount at stress image. It was proper to set FWHM as 7 mm at basal and stress image and 11mm at subtraction image. LEAP was about 80~100 kcount at basal image and 180~200 kcount at stress image. LEAP images could reduce blurring by setting FWHM as 5 mm at basal and stress images and 7 mm at subtraction image. At basal and stress image, LEHR image was superior than LEAP image. But in case of subtraction image like a phantom experiment, it showed rough image because SNR of LEHR image was decreased. On the other hand, in case of subtraction LEAP image was better than LEHR image in SNR and sensitivity. In all LEHR and LEAP collimator images, proper subset and iteration frequency was 8 times. Conclusions: We could archive more clear and high SNR subtraction image by using proper filter with LEAP collimator. In case of applying one day protocol and reconstructing by Flash 3D, we could consider application of LEAP collimator to acquire better subtraction image.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.57-62
• /
• 2009

Purpose: Brain SPECT study is more sensitive to motion than other studies. Especially, when applying 1-day subtraction method for Diamox SPECT, it needs shorter study time in order to prevent reexamination. We were required to have new study condition and analysing method on dual detector system because triple head camera in Seoul National University Hospital is to be disposed. So we have tried to increase image quality and make the dual and triple head to have equivalent study time by using a new analysing program. Materials and Methods: Using IEC phantom, we estimated contrast, SNR and FWHM. In Hoffman 3D brain phantom which is similar with real brain, we were on the supposition that 5% of injected doses were distributed in brain tissue. To compare with existing FBP method, we used fan-beam collimator. And we applied 15 sec, 25 sec/frame for each SEPCT studies using LEHR and LEUHR. We used OSEM2D and Onco-flash3D reconstruction method and compared reconstruction methods between applied Gaussian post-filtering 5mm and not applied as well. Attenuation correction was applied by manual method. And we did Brain SPECT to patient injected 15 mCi of $^{99m}Tc$-HMPAO according to results of Phantom study. Lastly, technologist, MD, PhD estimated the results. Results: The study shows that reconstruction method by Flash3D is better than exiting FBP and OSEM2D when studied using IEC phantom. Flowing by estimation, when using Flash3D, both of 15 sec and 25 sec are needed postfiltering 5 mm. And 8 times are proper for subset 8 iteration in Flash3D. OSEM2D needs post-filtering. And it is proper that subset 4, iteration 8 times for 15sec and subset 8, iteration 12 times for 25sec. The study regarding to injected doses for a patient and study time, combination of input parameter-15 sec/frame, LEHR collimator, analysing program-Flash3D, subset 8, iteration 8times and Gaussian post-filtering 5mm is the most appropriate. On the other hands, it was not appropriate to apply LEUHR collimator to 1-day subtraction method of Diamox study because of lower sensitivity. Conclusions: We could prove that there was also an advantage of short study time effectiveness in Dual camera same as Triple gamma camera and get great result of alternation from existing fan-beam collimator to parallel collimator. In addition, resolution and contrast of new method was better than FBP method. And it could improve sensitivity and accuracy of image because lesser subjectivity was input than Metz filter of FBP. We expect better image quality and shorter study time of Brain SPECT on Dual detector system.