An introduction to the physics and instrumentation of positron emission tomography

Conference · Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:6469949

Bennett, G W

Positron-emitting radionuclides permit the use of electronic collimation and thus achieve higher resolution and better sensitivity than can be obtained with gamma-emitting radiotracers. The evolution of PET imaging systems can be traced from the use of opposed collimated scanning detectors, which had all the limitations of traditional single photon imaging devices, to the present systems which surround the subject with a large volume of detector material. The improvements in system resolution now approach the theoretical limitation imposed by positron-range, and angular deviation. The use of coding permits the use of shared electronics for reading our multiple detectors, which promises to decrease the cost of PET imaging devices, at some penalty of degraded performance. Improvements in computer architectures and capabilities permit faster reconstruction of the multiple planes imaged by multi-slice imaging systems. Software for distortion correction and image processing are still under development, and the ability to map between different devices requires the coordination of efforts between different groups in the same institution. The development and validation of the mathematical models for tracer kinetic analyses will continue to occupy the attention of clinicians and scientists involved in these developments. The desire to make these devices simple and cheap enough to be used in routine patient care is occupying the attention of industry and pioneering users, but this goal has not yet been achieved. 17 refs., 15 figs., 3 tabs.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 6469949
• Report Number(s): BNL-39724; CONF-8606313-1; ON: DE87010041
• Resource Relation: Conference: NATO advanced study institute on cerebral blood flow and metabolism, L'Aguila, Italy, 2 Jun 1986; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
POSITRON COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
IMAGE PROCESSING
POSITRON DETECTION
DESIGN
RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS
CHARGED PARTICLE DETECTION
COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY
DETECTION
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DRUGS
EMISSION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
RADIATION DETECTION
TOMOGRAPHY
550601* - Medicine- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics