Comparison of Effectiveness about Image Quality and Scan Time According to Reconstruction Method in Bone SPECT

영상 재구성 방법에 따른 Bone SPECT 영상의 질과 검사시간에 대한 실효성 비교

Purpose: Nowadays in the nuclear medicine, many studies and efforts are being made to reduce the scan time, as well as the waiting time to be needed to execute exams after injection of radionuclide medicines. Several methods are being used in clinic, such as developing new radionuclide compounds that enable to be absorbed into target organs more quickly and reducing acquisition scan time by increase the number of Gamma Camera detectors to examine. Each medical equipment manufacturer has improved the imaging process techniques to reduce scan time. In this paper, we tried to analyze the difference of image quality between FBP, 3D OSEM reconstruction methods that commercialized and being clinically applied, and Astonish reconstruction method (A kind of Iterative fast reconstruction method of Philips), also difference of image quality on scan time. Material and Methods: We investigated in 32 patients that examined the Bone SPECT from June to July 2008 at department of nuclear medicine, ASAN Medical Center in Seoul. 40sec/frame and 20sec/frame images were acquired that using Philips‘ PRECEDENCE 16 Gamma Camera and then reconstructed those images by using the Astonish (Philips’ Reconstruction Method), 3D OSEM and FBP methods. The blinded test was performed to the clinical interpreting physicians with all images analyzed by each reconstruction method for qualitative analysis. And we analyzed target to non target ratio by draws lesions as the center of disease for quantitative analysis. At this time, each image was analyzed with same location and size of ROI. Results: In a qualitative analysis, there was no significant difference by acquisition time changes in image quality. In a quantitative analysis, the images reconstructed Astonish method showed good quality due to better sharpness and distinguish sharply between lesions and peripheral lesions. After measuring each mean value and standard deviation value of target to non target ratio with 40 sec/frame and 20sec/frame images, those values are Astonish (40 sec-$13.91{\pm}5.62$ : 20 sec-$13.88{\pm}5.92$), 3D OSEM (40 sec-$10.60{\pm}3.55$ : 20 sec-$10.55{\pm}3.64$), FBP (40 sec-$8.30{\pm}4.44$ : 20 sec-$8.19{\pm}4.20$). We analyzed target to non target ratio from 20 sec and 40 sec images. And we analyzed the result, In Astonish (t=0.16, p=0.872), 3D OSEM (t=0.51, p=0.610), FBP (t=0.73, p=0.469) methods, there was no significant difference statistically by acquisition time change in image quality. But FBP indicates no statistical differences while some images indicate difference between 40 sec/frame and 20 sec/frame images by various factors. Conclusions: In the circumstance, try to find a solution to reduce nuclear medicine scan time, the development of nuclear medicine equipment hardware has decreased while software has marched forward at a relentless. Due to development of computer hardware, the image reconstruction time was reduced and the expanded capacity to restore enables iterative methods that couldn't be performed before due to technical limits. As imaging process technique developed, it reduced scan time and we could observe that image quality keep similar level. While keeping exam quality and reducing scan time can induce the reduction of patient's pain and sensory waiting time, also accessibility of nuclear medicine exam will be improved and it provide better service to patients and clinical physician who order exams. Consequently, those things make the image of department of nuclear medicine be improved. Concurrent Imaging - A new function that setting up each image acquisition parameter and enables to acquire images simultaneously with various parameters to once examine.

최근 영상 처리 기법의 발전으로 영상의 질은 저하시키지 않고 검사 소요시간을 단축시키는 방법들이 개발되고 있다. 특히 단층 촬영의 경우 영상 재구성 방법을 개선하여 영상의 질이 우수한 영상을 획득할 수 있게 되었다. Philips사의 PRECEDENCE 16 감마카메라를 이용해 보편적으로 시행하고 있는 분석법에 의한 FBP 방법과 반복법에 의한 Astonish, 3D OSEM 방법을 이용해 각각 영상을 재구성하여 정성적인 분석과 정량적인 분석을 통해 영상 획득시간을 다르게 한 영상간의 비교와, 동일한 시간으로 획득한 영상을 비교하여 영상의 질이 우수한 재구성 방법에 대해 연구 하였다. 정성적인 분석을 위해 blind test를 한 결과, 영상 획득시간에 따른 영상의 질은 거의 차이가 없는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 또한 정량적인 분석을 통해서도 영상 획득시간에 따른 영상의 질은 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 없었다. 하지만 영상 획득시간이 동일한 영상을 재구성 방법에 따라 분석한 결과는 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 있음을 확인할 수 있었다. 영상의 질은 반복법을 이용하는 Astonish에 의해 재구성된 영상이 해상력이 좋고 임상적으로 진단적 정보를 제공하는데 우수한 영상으로 판단된다. 영상을 재구성하기 위한 소요시간이 길고 저장 공간의 부족 등으로 현재까지 많이 사용되지 않던 반복법에 의한 재구성 방법이 영상의 질은 향상시키고 검사시간은 단축 할 수 있는 방법이 될 수 있음을 확인하였다.