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Title: Optimization of PET instrumentation for brain activation studies

Journal Article · · IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/23.256711· OSTI ID:6011868
; ;  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA (United States). Dept. of Radiological Science
  2. Karolinska Hospital and Inst., Stockholm (Sweden). Dept. of Clinical Neurophysiology
  3. Max Planck Inst. fuer neurologische Forschung, Koeln (Germany)

By performing cerebral blood flow studies with positron emission tomography (PET), and comparing blood flow images of different states of activation, functional mapping of the brain is possible. The ability of current commercial instruments to perform such studies is investigated in this work, based on a comparison of noise equivalent count (NEC) rates. Differences in the NEC performance of the different scanners in conjunction with scanner design parameters, provide insights into the importance of block design (size, dead time, crystal thickness) and overall scanner design (sensitivity and scatter fraction) for optimizing data from activation studies. The newer scanners with removable septa, operating with 3-D acquisition, have much higher sensitivity, but require new methodology for optimized operation. Only by administering multiple low doses (fractionation) of the flow tracer can the high sensitivity be utilized.

OSTI ID:
6011868
Journal Information:
IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States), Vol. 40:4 part 1; ISSN 0018-9499
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English